Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has been criticized for wearing his signature shorts and hoodie to accompany President Biden on a tour of the recent I-95 bridge collapse.
Biden arrived in Philadelphia Saturday to do an aerial tour of the collapse site alongside Democratic politicians Fetterman, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Senator Bob Casey, Rep. Brendan Boyle and Mayor Jim Kenney.
All wore suits, with the exception of Fetterman, who wore casual shorts and a hoodie. His appearance triggered sharp criticism on the Internet. One person tweeted that Fetterman “showed up ready for a game of basketball.”
It comes just days after the embattled Pennsylvania senator sparked fresh health concerns at a Senate Environment Committee hearing on Wednesday when he stumbled over his remarks about the I-95 bridge collapse.
The section of the east coast’s main north-south freeway collapsed last Sunday after a tractor trailer hauling gasoline overturned on an slip road and caught fire. State transportation officials said the driver tried to negotiate a corner and lost control.
Biden is greeted in Pennsylvania by Democratic politicians – including Senator John Fetterman, who appeared in basketball shorts and a hoodie pic.twitter.com/s7lKSqUtjJ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 17, 2023
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was slapped for wearing his signature shorts and hoodie when he met a smartly dressed President Biden on Saturday as the two lawmakers toured a collapsed highway in Philadelphia
The politicians all wore suits, with the exception of Fetterman, who was dressed casually, wearing shorts and a hoodie. His appearance triggered sharp criticism on the Internet. One person tweeted that Fetterman “showed up ready for a game of basketball.”
On Wednesday, months after Fetterman made headlines with his six-week hospital visit for clinical depression, he was asked at a Senate Environment Committee hearing if he had any comments about the flyover disaster.
“I, um, would just, um, really like to, you know – the 95, 95, 95. You know?” he replied.
“Obviously you’re pretty concerned with 95, and so am I, for sure … and we know it’s a big atery[sic]not just for Pennsylvania, but for the East Coast as well.”
The senator’s muttered testimony fell silent as he neared the end of his sentence, fearing he still hadn’t fully recovered from a debilitating stroke in May 2022.
Sen. John Fetterman (pictured) stumbled over his remarks about the I-95 bridge collapse during a Senate Environment Committee hearing on Wednesday
A section of the I-95 freeway collapsed Sunday after a truck loaded with gasoline exploded
The MP’s appearance has been a hot topic for Conservatives since he entered the Senate in January.
One commenter on Twitter asked, “Does Fetterman own business attire or does he literally always dress like a slob?” Others called the senator a clown and an embarrassment.
Last month, Fetterman wore his favorite Carhartt hoodie as he joined several Democratic heavyweights, including Bernie Sanders, to tout progress in the debt ceiling negotiations.
Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert took to Twitter to express her disapproval of his clothing choices, calling his outfit “really unseemly.”
By comparison, his four Democratic colleagues all wore suits, ties and more formal footwear.
“John Fetterman redefined Casual Friday on a Thursday morning.” It really is unseemly for anyone to come across like that at any job, let alone a job that only 100 people were selected for. “There’s just no excuse for it,” she scolded.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman wore his signature hoodie and shorts, prompting Rep. Lauren Boebert to express her disapproval on Twitter
Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert slammed Democratic Senator John Fetterman’s choice of clothing at a Senate press conference, calling it “really improper.”
Fetterman’s four Democratic colleagues wore suits and ties
By comparison, his four Democratic colleagues all wore suits, ties and more formal footwear.
But for regular Fetterman followers, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him in such casual attire.
He was often seen in a hoodie and shorts during his time as mayor of Braddock and during his campaign for the Pennsylvania Senate.
Fetterman recently returned to the Senate after a six-week hospitalization for clinical depression.
He was also spotted in a hoodie and shorts on several occasions during this time.
The 53-year-old had previously suffered a stroke, and his stumbling and sometimes incoherent appearance before Congress continued to spark concerns about his health.
Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman wore a giant, oversized Carhartt hoodie
Fetterman wore a pair of sneakers on his feet, in sharp contrast to his colleagues’ formal shoes
Criticism of Fetterman’s intellectual prowess reached its peak before he was even elected to the Senate, when he struggled to finish his thoughts during a debate with Republican rival Mehmet Oz in October.
After opening the evening by addressing the crowd, “Hello, good night everyone,” it emerged that Fetterman still suffered from lingering speech and hearing problems stemming from the stroke he suffered in May 2022 .
Fetterman at times had trouble getting through his hour-long debate with Oz, his delivery often being halting and choppy.
At one point, Fetterman was asked to clarify his position on fracking, as moderators referenced a 2018 interview in which the lieutenant governor expressed his broad opposition to the practice, but no ban.
“I support fracking – I don’t, I don’t – I support fracking, and I support fracking,” he replied.
A month later, he was criticized by Donald Trump Jr., who called the then-candidate “brain dead.”