Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman returned to the Senate this week with a “scary” and “worrying” first speech after being away for nearly two full months with clinical depression.
The Democrat resigned from his role in mid-February and eventually returned to his position on Wednesday with a choppy first speech.
During a session of a Senate Agriculture Committee’s subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organic Products and Research, the recovering lawmaker raised eyebrows with his speech pattern.
At one point, social media users said it was hard to understand what he was saying, while others said it felt like “watching an SNL sketch.”
Fetterman got off to a rocky start to his career in Washington after suffering a stroke while campaigning in 2022 and being hospitalized for clinical depression in early February before his stay.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman returned to the Senate this week with a “scary” and “worrying” first speech after being away for nearly two full months with clinical depression
During a session of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organic Products and Research, the recovering lawmaker raised eyebrows with his speech pattern
John Fetterman chairs a Senate subcommittee, and this was his opening statement. good sir This guy is not remotely good or able to do this job. Embarrassing for Pennsylvania: pic.twitter.com/hEyK6k3YUd
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 19, 2023
Videos of Fetterman speaking during the meetings were posted to Twitter by Greg Price on Wednesday afternoon and immediately blew up.
In a matter of hours, a two-minute clip of the Pennsylvania senator has garnered more than 4.9 million views.
The tweet itself was also quoted and retweeted thousands of times.
Below the tweet, more social media users commented on the senator’s speech.
“Frightening,” said political commentator Jewels Jones.
“Sad actually,” wrote social media user Coach John Bailey.
In a response to Bailey’s tweet, another man agreed with his choice of adjective.
“That’s the exact word I would use to describe this poor soul. No jokes coming, just empathy for him and for the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Bruce Stover.
Others on the social media app weren’t so kind to the Democratic politician.
“That’s what our tax dollars do. This is not a serious country,” one man wrote.
“It sounds like Norm MacDonald is doing a bit,” noted Twitter user Nik Lentz.
‘Unreal. The sad part is he’s probably doing better than Feinstein right now. What an absolute mockery of our political system, which prioritizes keeping these people in power and properly representing their constituents. Shameful…” wrote another.
However, some on Twitter were willing to show some mercy to Fetterman.
‘I understand what he’s saying. He will keep improving. Give this man mercy. His stroke did not affect his decision making. His speech is interrupted but it’s clear what he’s saying,” one person wrote.
“He’s obviously trying and I won’t blame him. I don’t know what to say,” Cole Trim wrote.
Videos of Fetterman speaking during the meetings were posted to Twitter by Greg Price on Wednesday afternoon and immediately blew up and were viewed millions of times within hours
“Sad actually,” wrote social media user Coach John Bailey.
“That’s what our tax dollars do. This is not a serious country,” one man wrote
“He’s obviously trying and I won’t blame him. I don’t know what to say,” Cole Trim wrote
One person mentioned that Fetterman “is probably doing better” than his Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who has been recovering from shingles for the past two months
Fetterman resurfaced on Capitol Hill Monday for the first time since his release from Walter Reed Medical Center last month.
He was released in late March but returned home to Pennsylvania as the Senate was on a two-week spring break.
“It’s great to be back,” Fetterman told reporters on The Hill at the time.
Almost all lawmakers returned Monday — including Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who fell out after falling with his head.
A notable exception is Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who remains in California, where she has spent the past two months recovering from shingles. She didn’t say when she was coming back.
Senator John Fetterman returned to the Capitol Monday after a two-month absence to be treated for clinical depression
“It’s great to be back,” Senator Fetterman said