Fetterman Credits ‘Kamala is for They/Them’ Ad Campaign for Trump Victory in Pennsylvania

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) on Friday offered the viral advertisement by President-elect Donald Trump that elevated past statements by Vice President Kamala Harris, including video of her expressing support for taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for prison inmates, as an example of the Trump campaign’s effective messaging that led to a landslide victory last Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania Democrat highlighted the ad campaign during a Friday interview with Semafor while also arguing President Joe Biden would have fared better against Trump.

“I refuse to throw members of the gay or trans communities under the bus,” said Fetterman, before adding, “it’s also true, undeniably, that if someone ran for president in 2020 and pandered to that Squad mentality, or to get likes on Twitter, and they made those kinds of statements about gender, they were going to be pretty hard to defend. That was going to get weaponized.”

Fetterman then pointed directly to the Trump campaign’s viral ad, which argued, “Kamala is for they/them. Trump is for you,” as an effective method of persuasion.

“And it’s undeniable that Republicans created a really powerful message: ‘She’s for they/them, and Trump is for you.’ That was, I think, our cycle’s version of ‘where’s the beef?’ or ‘I knew Jack Kennedy, and you’re no Jack Kennedy,'” said Fetterman. He told the outlet, “It had an ear worm quality. And I’m not surprised that that resonated.”

https://www.twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1852083025498014151

The comments from Fetterman follow those from American Principles Project president Terry Schilling, who the New York Post reported began running ads with similar themes in 2019.

“The cue of giving sex change procedures to inmates is so radical, it’s so extreme, and it’s one of those issues that touches on not just the culture war, but the economy, too,” Schilling told the outlet.

While Fetterman gave credit to Trump for his campaign’s messaging, the senator also questioned to Semafor whether any candidate could beat the popular Republican.

Still, Fetterman argued those who pushed Biden to end his campaign should “own” the election’s outcome.

“For those that decided and moved to break Biden, and then you got the election that you wanted, it’s appropriate to own the outcome and fallout,” said Fetterman.

After acknowledging Biden’s disastrous June debate against Trump, the senator offered, “The options: Double down on the only person that’s ever beat Trump, or demand an alternative. When the outcome didn’t support your thesis and actions, then own it. There’s a lot of egos, institutions and reputations that championed the alternative. When you take a reasonable, calculated risk to f*** around, embrace your culpability for what you found out.”

Fetterman also acknowledged the influence of Trump’s endorsement from Elon Musk, having previously compared the billionaire to the fictional Tony Stark, the alternative identity of the Marvel superhero Iron Man.

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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Image “Kamala Is for They/Them” by Trump War Room.