A tense meeting last week between Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman and a delegation from a teachers union ended with one of his staffers in tears according to the Associated Press news agency, escalating growing concerns over the Democratic lawmaker’s mental health and behavior just three years after suffering a life-threatening stroke.
Newsweek has reached out to John Fetterman’s office for comment via email on Thursday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
This episode comes amid broader scrutiny of Fetterman’s mental and emotional health, including recent public allegations from his former chief of staff Adam Jentleson, who described the senator’s conduct in a 2024 letter to a Walter Reed neuropsychiatrist as “on a bad trajectory.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat, who had a stroke in 2022 stroke and was subsequent hospitalized for clinical depression, was widely praised for his openness about mental health issues.
But recent developments suggest ongoing instability, raising questions within his party as he enters the third year of his Senate term.
Fetterman is among the few Democrats in Congress who has openly met with President Donald Trump since the 2024 election, drawing rebukes from progressives in his home state. Though his populist brand once endeared him to the left, his recent alignment on issues like Israel and his distancing from party orthodoxy have added to speculation about his political direction and personal wellbeing.
What To Know
The incident took place in Fetterman’s Washington, D.C., office during what was supposed to be a routine discussion with education representatives according to AP. Instead, the news agency reported Fetterman’s demeanor quickly unraveled, citing individuals briefed on the meeting.
The senator reportedly began shouting, repeating himself, and slammed his hands on a desk while asking, “Why does everyone hate me, what did I ever do?” One staff member ultimately cut the meeting short and escorted the union visitors out, then broke down crying in the hallway. The union representatives reportedly comforted the staffer.
When asked about the contentious union meeting specifically, Fetterman issued a statement through his office to Associated Press, describing it as “a spirited conversation about our collective frustration with the Trump administration’s cuts to our education system.” He added, “I will always support our teachers, and I will always reject anyone’s attempt to turn Pennsylvania’s public schools into a voucher program.”
The events described by the AP came just one day before New York Magazine’s Intelligencer published a detailed account of staff concerns about Fetterman’s mental health. In the story, Jentleson warned in a letter that the senator had stopped attending medical appointments, pushed away those responsible for helping manage his health, and might have discontinued prescribed medications. He also alleged reckless behavior, including texting and video-calling while driving at high speeds.
“He has picked fights with each person involved in that system and used those fights as excuses to push them out and cut them off from any knowledge about his health situation,” Jentleson wrote, according to the letter.
New York Magazine also reported that Fetterman’s wife, Gisele, had refused to speak with him until he underwent required blood work, which he eventually did, but only after missing earlier appointments. Other aides described episodes of seclusion, mood swings, and erratic social media behavior, despite staff efforts to manage his online presence.
The Pennsylvania senator dismissed the Intelligencer report as “a one-source hit piece” and told CNN‘s Manu Raju, “It involved maybe two or three anonymous, disgruntled staffers saying just absolutely false things.” Fetterman further told CBS News’ Cristina Corujo that, “They’re actually not concerned. It’s a hit piece.”
Fetterman was elected as a Pennsylvania Senator in November 2022 after beating Donald Trump endorsed Republican rival Mehmet Oz in a heated contest.
What People Are Saying
Sharif Street, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, told the Associated Press: “People are concerned about his health. They want to make sure he’s OK. People care about him. There’s a lot of love for him out there.”
MSNBC contributor Rotimi Adeoye: “The Fetterman story is troubling—not just because of chaotic staff allegations, but because someone clearly still struggling with their mental health shouldn’t be in such a high-stakes role. The only solution is political: Fetterman should resign.”
Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona: “Despicable hit piece on JohnFetterman—I wish I was surprised anyone would publish an obvious vendetta re: a man’s medical journey.”
What’s Next
Fetterman is not up for reelection until 2028, but Democratic Party leaders in Pennsylvania are under increasing pressure to assess his capacity to continue serving.
The post John Fetterman Staffer Left Crying Over His Erratic Behavior: Report appeared first on Newsweek.
