Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania recently had a meal with former strategist Steve Bannon at the Capitol Hill eatery, Magagangouts, which just celebrated its 17th birthday.
As reported by Politico Playbook, Fetterman (D-Pa.) was spotted dining alongside Matt Boyle and Bannon at Bistro Butterworth in Washington, DC.
Bannon, known for his “War Room” podcast, has often been viewed as a scary figure among Democrats. Yet, Fetterman hasn’t hesitated to engage with key individuals in that arena, even if it miffs some of his supporters. Back in January, he made headlines by visiting Mar-a-Lago to see then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, marking him as a rare Democrat to do so.
Earlier this month, he was also present at a bipartisan event with Republican Senator Dave McCormick from Pennsylvania.
Fetterman, the towering Keystone state senator, hasn’t shied away from critiquing his own party either. He has openly supported Israel and recently condemned the riots stemming from illegal immigrant issues in Los Angeles.
On Monday, he stated, “I’m negatively representing free speech, peaceful protests, and immigration, but that’s not accurate. What we’re witnessing is sheer chaos,” suggesting that such events undermine the integrity of his party.
He continued, “My party loses moral ground when it chooses not to act against violence and disorder.”
It’s not entirely clear if Fetterman’s comments about the Los Angeles riots came before or after his dinner with Bannon.
Details about their conversation at Butterworth remain murky.
Monday was also significant for Fetterman, as it marked the 17th anniversary of his marriage to Gisele, who he married in 2008.
Gisele has been relatively low-profile recently but is set to release her memoir, “Radical Kindness: The Value of Vulnerability in a Often Unkind World,” where she reflects on their marriage.
In one part, she recounted a conversation with their son, who, after a sleepover, expressed concern about his friend’s parents getting divorced. He asked, “Will you and Dad divorce?” In an earnest moment, she recalled how she and John replied simultaneously to reassure him. Her honesty about wanting to portray the complexities of life made an impression on her family dynamics.
