Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is proving once again that he’s the wild card of the Democratic Party, a figure unafraid to critique his own side or venture into politically uncharted territory. His latest comments and actions following President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 victory have solidified his reputation as a maverick willing to break with Democratic orthodoxy, even as his party struggles to process its electoral defeat.

Fetterman’s blunt advice to his Democratic colleagues, delivered in an interview with The New York Times, was classic Fetterman: unfiltered, irreverent, and cutting through the noise. “We really need to pace ourselves,” he said, chastising Democrats for their increasingly frantic reactions to Trump’s win. “Buckle up and pack a lunch, because it’s going to be four years of this.”

Fetterman’s call for measured responses rather than constant outrage highlights a stark divide within the Democratic Party. While many progressives are doubling down on resistance tactics, Fetterman seems to advocate a more strategic approach: save the energy for battles that matter. His warning that incessant “freak-outs” erode credibility is a rare acknowledgment of the risks of overplaying outrage.

Here we go. This is going to be a fun ride. pic.twitter.com/a0wst0tNJN

— MikesRight (@RealLibSmacker) December 12, 2024

Perhaps the most striking move by Fetterman this week was his surprising take on the Hunter Biden and Trump legal cases. Not only did he post about it on Truth Social—a platform Democrats have largely shunned—but he also delivered a bipartisan argument that neither Trump’s hush money case nor Hunter Biden’s legal troubles should result in continued prosecutions.

“The Trump hush money and Hunter Biden cases were both b*******,” Fetterman wrote in his debut Truth Social post. He called for pardons in both instances, arguing that politically motivated prosecutions undermine faith in institutions. His stance, reiterated during an appearance on The View, left co-hosts visibly stunned, especially Joy Behar.

Fetterman’s position is a stark departure from the Democratic Party line. While many Democrats praised President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, others—including prominent media outlets—criticized the move. By coupling criticism of the Hunter Biden case with his defense of Trump, Fetterman positioned himself as an advocate for de-escalation, even at the risk of alienating his party.

Fetterman’s embrace of Trump’s Truth Social platform added another layer to his unpredictable persona. His post, complete with a screenshot of an MSNBC headline about Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s legal maneuvers against Trump, was a direct challenge to the Democratic consensus that Trump’s legal woes are beyond reproach.

The timing of Fetterman’s comments is especially significant. Trump’s hush money case remains unresolved, with Judge Juan Merchan indefinitely postponing sentencing after Trump’s Election Day win. Meanwhile, Bragg continues to push back against Trump’s attempts to dismiss the case. Fetterman’s critique of Bragg’s efforts is a bold move that underscores his willingness to defy party expectations.

Fetterman’s contrarian stances reveal deeper rifts within the Democratic Party. His critiques of overreaction and his calls for pardons come as Democrats face a reckoning over their post-2024 strategy. While many in the party double down on anti-Trump rhetoric, Fetterman’s approach suggests a need for recalibration—a recognition that constant outrage may alienate voters and undermine the party’s credibility.