Fetterman’s Painfully Awkward Swearing-in Renews Doubts About Ability to Serve

Jon Fetterman (D.Pa.) was sworn into the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. He opted for a suit and a hoodie instead. He bought a new suit for this occasion, and it was much better than the one he wore to Joe Biden’s Pennsylvania visit last summer. It is properly tailored and everything. He might have looked like a complete slob for his first public appearance.

Nevertheless, I was struck by something awkward and off about Fetterman’s swearing-in video. While senators were sworn in together in small groups, Fetterman’s behavior during the photo-op afterward with Kamala Harris raised some red flags.

First, Fetterman is unable to speak. He communicates only with facial gestures and nods. Kamala Harris and his wife Gisele Fetterman do most of the talking. When his children are invited to join him for a family picture, the senator doesn’t seem to acknowledge them. He looks lost, he just stares out at the distance like a puppet, clenching his hands and sometimes smiling awkwardly. Fetterman is also unable to understand or ignore the instructions of the photographer to place his hands by his sides.

John Fetterman, it has been long suspected, covered up the extent of cognitive impairments he suffered in May after his stroke. He spent much time hiding during the general campaign, refusing to reveal his medical records. Instead, he released a note from his doctor, which cleared him to serve as a U.S. Senator. This donor is a major supporter of Democrat candidates. Fetterman refused to debate until a few weeks before Election Day after significant numbers of votes had been cast due to early voting.

Fetterman’s bizarre behavior at his swearing-in suggests that Fetterman hasn’t seen a significant improvement in his mental health since October’s disastrous debate performance. Combining this with the fact that Fetterman has not conducted one interview since his election raises serious questions about his ability as a U.S. Senator. We previously reported that he was not often at work as the mayor of Braddock or lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania, and this was before his stroke. How much chance is he now of being able to do the job as a U.S. Senator?