Fetterman Criticizes Media for “Weaponizing” His Mental Health

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) took aim at the press in a recent interview, expressing frustration over how they’ve repeatedly “weaponized” his treatment for depression soon after he took office.

“This has turned into a… well, I guess you could say it resembles [Bill] Belichick’s relationship stories,” he mentioned, referring to media narratives that echo the ongoing buzz surrounding the former Patriots coach and his long-time girlfriend. “It just keeps going.”

Fetterman, age 55, disclosed that he was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in early 2023, where he underwent six weeks of treatment for depression. This was shortly followed by the events that unfolded thereafter.

A recent series of articles, sparked by an in-depth piece in New York magazine, suggests that the Pennsylvania Democrat has been inconsistent in adhering to his recovery plan, exhibiting “unsteady” behavior at a private event while bypassing official Senate responsibilities.

This includes missing committee hearings and caucus meetings on Capitol Hill, as well as skipping an event in Keystone City Hall.

“I’m not planning anything drastic,” he stated enthusiastically during the interview, his words a response to a controversial leak involving a private chat among Trump administration officials.

“It’s like a joke now. One day it’s just this emoji,” he added, perhaps reflecting on how mundane life can feel at times.

Since his return from treatment, Fetterman has missed more votes than most of his peers, with the exception of his former colleague, JD Vance (R-Ohio), and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), who left after being elected vice president last November.

The senator commented on how the criticism he’s faced feels like a coordinated effort from “one source,” hinting that Adam Gentleson, his former chief of staff and a key figure in the New York piece, was behind the dissemination of his medical information—likely fueled by what he termed “very left publications.”

“My doctor warned me years ago that once you reveal your struggle with depression, it could be used against you,” he reflected, adding, “And that’s exactly what’s happening.”