Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) ignited controversy on Wednesday with his first-ever post on Truth Social, where he defended former President-elect Donald Trump and called for his pardon in the hush-money case. The move, which Fetterman framed as a stand against partisan weaponization of the judiciary, has further alienated progressives who once championed his rise.

Fetterman referred to the charges against Trump as “bullshit” and likened them to the legal battles faced by Hunter Biden, advocating for pardons in both cases.

“The Trump hush money and Hunter Biden cases were both bullshit, and pardons are appropriate,” Fetterman wrote. “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division.”

His post included a screenshot from an MSNBC article covering Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s opposition to Trump’s attempts to dismiss the case. Bragg had countered Trump’s argument for “president-elect immunity,” asserting that no such legal precedent exists.

Fetterman’s Controversial Stance

Fetterman reiterated similar views during a recent appearance on The View, where he criticized both cases as politically motivated.

“In both cases, I think a pardon is appropriate,” he said. “America’s confidence in these institutions has been damaged by these kinds of cases, and we cannot allow them to be weaponized against political opponents.”

The response to Fetterman’s Truth Social debut has been polarizing. Trump supporters inundated his post with memes and claims, including unfounded arguments that Hunter Biden’s actions were more egregious than Trump’s.

One commenter claimed, “Hunter illegally carried guns, and his laptop showed him committing even more crimes. That doesn’t equate to Trump’s accountants fudging expenses.”

A jury convicted Trump in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden, pardoned by his father, faced charges of tax evasion and firearm violations.

Progressive Backlash

On Bluesky, progressives lambasted Fetterman’s comments, accusing him of catering to Trump supporters.

  • “Terrible take. Can’t believe I ever liked this dude,” one user wrote.
  • “HUSH MONEY case? It was an ELECTION INTERFERENCE case, and he was found guilty,” added another. “What the hell is Fetterman even doing on Truth Social?”
  • “Fetterman is now supporting the MAGA agenda. Democratic voters deserve better,” said another critic.

This isn’t the first time Fetterman has faced progressive ire. His vocal support for Israel during its conflict with Palestine and his public mockery of climate change activists have also drawn sharp criticism.

Shifting Political Identity

While Fetterman’s positions have alienated many progressives, they have garnered approval from right-leaning voices, solidifying his image among some as a “based” contrarian in the political landscape. However, calls from disillusioned supporters for refunds of their campaign donations underscore the growing divide between the senator and his original base.

As Fetterman navigates these contentious issues, his evolving political identity continues to fuel debate across the ideological spectrum.