When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged the Democratic party to ‘fight harder’ against Donald Trump, Senator John Fetterman responded with a blunt ‘Deal with it’.
Since Trump’s re-election, Fetterman has been trying to shift his image to that of a non-conformist similar to John McCain. He has gone as far as meeting with the president and avoiding public criticism.
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez has been focusing on energizing the party’s supporters. She has been touring swing districts alongside Bernie Sanders, the Vermont socialist who once mentored her.
The New York ‘squad’ founder appeared to take a shot at Fetterman and nine other Democrats who voted to approve the Republican continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown in a speech in Las Vegas Thursday.
‘This isn’t just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, too,’ she said.
Fetterman dismissed the criticism in a post to social media on Friday.
‘Fight ‘harder’ – a stunt that would have harmed millions and plunged us into chaos. We kept our government open. Deal with it,’ the Senator said.
It’s not the first time Fetterman has taken a shot at AOC for criticizing his vote with Senate Republicans.
Earlier this week, when asked to respond to her slights, he said ‘I hope you can relay how little I care about her views on this,’ he told NewsNation.
‘I’m going to stand on what I happen to believe is the right thing to do but ask her, ‘What’s the exit plan once we shut the government down?’ What about all the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged? What about the ones that won’t have any paycheck? She’ll have her paycheck, though.’
Ocasio-Cortez, meanwhile, appeared to respond by making peace with Fetterman’s main rival in the 2022 Democrat Primary, Connor Lamb.
Fetterman claimed the ‘progressive’ lane in the contest while Lamb was considered more of a moderate, before Fetterman won en route to taking the seat over Dr. Oz in the general election.
Ocasio-Cortez did not endorse a candidate in the primary but did back Fetterman in the general, something she appears to be having second thoughts about based on a tweet to Lamb earlier Friday.
Responding to a post where Lamb slammed Fetterman for his vote, she wrote: ‘I was wrong about you and I’m sorry,’ adding the crying emoji.
She asked: ‘Where do I submit my Conor Lamb apology form?’
Lamb responded: ‘No need – clearly we have been on the same side of the oligarchy question (against) and protecting social security and Medicare (for)….lets make that team as big as possible. Good luck on the road.’
Ocasio-Cortez then thanked Lamb ‘for all you do.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to a spokesperson for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez for comment.
Fetterman, in general, has pushed back on his own caucus’ approach to the continuing resolution and accused Senate Democrats of ‘theater’ to save face.
‘Shut the government down, plunge the country into chaos, risk a recession,’ Fetterman posted on X. ‘or Exchange cloture for a 30 day CR that 100% fails.’
‘The House GOP CR will then pass the Senate because it only needs 51 votes. Total theater is neither honest with constituents nor a winning argument,’ the senator added.
Fetterman also slammed his own party’s muted response to President Trump’s address to Congress.
The Pennsylvania lawmaker, seen by some as a potential unorthodox candidate for the 2028 presidential election, was asked by Fox News for his reaction to how Democrats behaved during Trump’s speech.
Democrats faced backlash for several stunts and protests during the address, including refusing to stand and clap for a young cancer survivor who was honored by Trump, while one congressman was even booted from the chamber for his antics.
‘I don’t think that was the best look for our party last night,’ Fetterman said.
Fetterman also took to X to share a more hostile take on his party’s performance, which be branded a ‘sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance.’
‘It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained,’ he said as he shared a Politico article that mocked Democrats who held up protest signs during the speech as ‘giving bingo.’
‘We’re becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to — and it may not be the winning message,’ Fetterman posted.
The senator’s break from his party comes as he has been floated by some as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, with Bill Maher recently calling for him to run, saying ‘Democrats need to find their Trump.’
