Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) fired back at Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman (D) after he criticized her participation in a viral “choose-your-fighter” TikTok video. Senator Fetterman called the video, which featured Rep. Crockett and other Democratic lawmakers, “bizarre” during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union.
In a heated response, Rep. Crockett pointed out that Senator Fetterman wears hoodies on the Senate floor, calling into question his authority to comment on the matter. “He’s not the one to talk about anything,” Rep. Crockett remarked, adding, “This is a guy that doesn’t seemingly want to own a suit… but I don’t show up in hoodies when I’m going on the floor.”
The TikTok video, which was part of a social media trend, was created at the request of an influencer. Rep. Crockett defended her participation, explaining that she didn’t have much prior knowledge of the trend but felt it was important for the public to see a lighter, more human side of lawmakers.
"I think that it is important that people see that we’re real people," she argued, emphasizing the need for moments of levity, especially in a time when politics often feels mired in conflict and frustration.
The Texas lawmaker also noted the hypocrisy in Senator Fetterman’s critique, reminding him that the Senate had to adjust its dress code to accommodate his casual attire.
"Senator Fetterman is consistently walking around the Senate chamber... they literally had to change the rules in the Senate so that he could walk around that way,” she pointed out. She concluded by asserting that the Pennsylvania senator was not the right person to judge the video’s authenticity, given his own unorthodox approach to Senate decorum.
This exchange highlights the growing tension between moderate and progressive factions within the Democratic Party as the party looks to gain seats in the upcoming midterm election.
