John Fetterman’s Name Booed at Pennsylvania ‘No Kings’ Rally

Senator John Fetterman was booed when his name was mentioned during a rally in his home state of Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Newsweek reached out to Fetterman’s office for comment via email on Sunday.

Why It Matters

Mediaite reported that the rally was part of the “No Kings” protest movement, one of many held nationwide on June 14.

Demonstrations took place in hundreds of U.S. cities, according to Reuters, with large-scale gatherings reported in major hubs such as Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and New York.

The demonstrations aligned with both the president’s 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary celebration in Washington D.C.

What To Know

In a clip from C-SPAN, Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the progressive nonprofit Indivisible, told the crowd in Philadelphia: “Now, this is not a rally for one party. We’ve got Democrats here today. We’ve got Republicans and independents here today.

“We are looking to the leaders who will fight for us because even today, there are folks among the Democratic Party who think we should roll over and play dead. Anyone seen John Fetterman here today?”

This remark was met with audible boos from the attendees.

Fetterman, a Democrat, has voiced support for the military parade—which according to White House director of communications Steven Cheung was attended by some 250,000—in a Saturday post on X, formerly Twitter, writing that it was “appropriate to celebrate the 250 years of sacrifice, dedication and service.”

The senator was criticized earlier this month in an opinion piece published by the editorial board of The Philadelphia Inquirer—Fetterman’s home state newspaper—which accused him of neglecting his political duties.

Fetterman has often broken with his party on key issues such as the Israel-Hamas war and border security.

His views prompted speculation that he was leaving the Democratic Party to join the Republicans—rumors he dismissed earlier this year.

During a January appearance on ABC‘s The View, he said he has “been on record” saying that “I am not going to become a Republican.”

He added: “I would make a pretty terrible Republican because, you know, pro-choice, pro really strong immigration, pro-LGBTQ… I don’t think I’d be a good fit. So, I’m not going to change my party and if I am… I’ll give you the exclusive.”

What People Are Saying

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman on X: “This parade is comprised of our sons, daughters, mothers and fathers—the very best of us. Regardless of your politics, it’s appropriate to celebrate the 250 years of sacrifice, dedication and service.”