Senator John Fetterman recently took a jab at Senator JD Vance after Vance suggested that the left needs to tone down its rhetoric. Fetterman quipped that Vance has become largely irrelevant, stating, “no one’s really listening to him anymore.”
This exchange unfolded during a Sunday episode of NBC’s Meet the Press, where host Kristen Welker prompted Fetterman to respond to Vance’s claim that Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, were partly to blame for an assassination attempt against former President Trump.
Fetterman replied, “I don’t know who is actually listening to what Vance says. It’s been months already; no one’s really listening to him anymore.”
He further criticized Vance, adding, “He has developed a kind of reputation for saying dumb and pointless things that offend everyone. He’s been labeled the most unpopular pick in history.” He emphasized, “No one’s listening to him. I’m certainly not.”
Tom Williams and Sean Simmers/ASSOCIATED PRESS
These comments came after Vance suggested on social media that a suspect in a recent assassination attempt against Trump was influenced by the rhetoric of Democrats. The accused, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was apprehended near Trump’s Florida golf club. Although he had previously supported Trump, his recent posts expressed frustration with the former president. Routh now faces charges related to gun offenses.
Vance also claimed a “double standard” in media reactions, arguing that if a Republican donor attempted to harm a Democratic official, the response would be much more severe. He criticized Harris’ surrogates, citing a statement from New York Representative Dan Goldman that called for Trump to be “eliminated.”
Fetterman dismissed Vance’s accusations, stating, “That’s absolutely absurd. Every Democrat condemned the assassination attempts, including myself.” He stressed the need to focus on meaningful discussions rather than engaging in what he called “empty rhetoric” from Vance.
Continuing to vocalize his opinions, Vance has made headlines for various controversial remarks, especially regarding women and children. He is also known for his ties to Project 2025, a contentious policy framework by The Heritage Foundation, which Trump has distanced himself from.
In his latest posts, Vance pushed unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants allegedly abducting and consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio. Despite the rumors being debunked, he maintains his stance. His approval ratings have notably suffered since Trump announced him as his running mate.