Sen. John Fetterman Shouts & Bangs His Fists During ‘Chaotic’ Meeting With Teachers’ Union, Raising Further Concerns About His Mental Health

by Evelyn QiuMay 10, 2025, 12:22 amNews >

Concerns are rising for Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) following a chaotic meeting with Pennsylvania teachers’ union representatives. According to multiple sources briefed on the meeting, Fetterman became agitated, shouting, repeating himself, and slamming his hands on a desk before a staffer ended the meeting.

The incident comes amid ongoing questions about the senator’s recovery following a life-threatening stroke during his 2022 campaign and a subsequent hospitalization for depression in early 2023. While Fetterman has publicly discussed his struggles and declared himself recovered, a 2024 letter from his former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, paints a different picture. The letter, sent to Fetterman’s neuropsychiatrist, warned that the senator had stopped following his recovery plan, was potentially off his medications, and was isolating himself from those meant to support him.

Fetterman dismissed recent media reports about his behavior as politically motivated. In a statement regarding the meeting with the teachers’ union, he said it was a “spirited conversation” about education policy and reiterated his opposition to school voucher programs.

Fetterman has set himself apart from many in the Democratic Party by urging them to find ways to work with President Donald Trump and by backing some of Trump’s nominees. At the same time, he has not hesitated to challenge Trump on key issues, such as trade policy and cuts to food assistance programs, illustrating his unpredictable and often contradictory political stance. He also strongly supports Israel regarding the war in Gaza, putting him at odds with many in the party.

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Now in his third year in the Senate, Fetterman remains a polarizing figure, seen by some as a refreshingly independent voice and by others as a liability. Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Sharif Street noted that while many still care deeply for Fetterman, concern about his well-being is widespread, saying, “People are concerned about his health. They want to make sure he’s OK. People care about him. There’s a lot of love for him out there.”