Internet accuses John Fetterman of throwing his wife 'under the bus' after endorsing tougher immigration laws

Senator John Fetterman faces backlash as he advocates for stricter immigration laws and distances himself from progressive label
John Fetterman's wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, came to the US as an undocumented migrant at the age of seven (Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons)
John Fetterman's wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, came to the US as an undocumented migrant at the age of seven (Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons)

BRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA: As Democratic Senator John Fetterman advocates for stricter immigration laws, social media accuses him of throwing his wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, under the bus, highlighting her past as an illegal immigrant, reported Newsweek.

Gisele, born in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, came to the US at the age of seven, and her mother and younger brother as undocumented immigrants, says 'Gisele's Story' shared on the Senator's personal website.

According to an article by Gisele in an online portal TribLIVE, she received her green card in 2004 and became a US citizen in 2009

The former lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania recently broke away from the left by demanding tougher laws on illegal immigration.

ERIE, PA - AUGUST 12: Democratic Senate candidate Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks during a ral
John Fetterman opened up about his stand on illegal immigration (Getty Images)

John Fetterman declares that he is 'not a progressive'

John, in a recent interview with NBC News, published on December 15, stated, "I'm not a progressive. I just think I'm a Democrat that is very committed to choice and other things."

Adding his views on the present stage of immigration to the country, he said, "Immigration is something near and dear to me, and I think we do have to effectively address it, as well."

His interview comes amidst Republicans in Congress's demands for stricter border policies to contain illegal immigration. According to the New York Times, around 177,000 migrants illegally crossed the southern border in August alone.

Pointing out the skyrocketing number of undocumented migrants, the Senator said, "It's a reasonable conversation—until somebody can say there's an explanation on what we can do when 270,000 people are being encountered on the border, not including the ones, of course, that we don't know about. To put that in reference, that is essentially the size of Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania."

Internet criticises John Fetterman

Following his interview, a screenshot of a tweet from John in June 2021 and a picture of his wife holding official papers and an American flag with the caption "Immigration makes America, America" resurfaced online.

The resurfaced social media post by John Fetterman where his wife holding citizenship documents (@ampol_moment/X)
The resurfaced social media post by John Fetterman showed his wife holding citizenship documents (@ampol_moment/X)

This led to widespread backlash against the former governor.

One user said, "Senator Fetterman throws his wife under the bus (2023)."



 

Another user said, "She was quite literally here illegally too, good god man."



 

"More like 'we got ours, time to pull up the ladder'," remarked another user.



 

One user quipped, "Bro prepping for a divorce."



 

Another witty reaction read, "He put us above his wife that's my goat."



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Todd Blanche rejects calls for scrutiny after a Russian businessman reportedly spent hundreds of thousands on Trump Jr’s wedding
3 hours ago
Trump says a federal appeal will decide whether the Kennedy Center renovation moves forward after a judge blocked the board’s latest naming plan
4 hours ago
Bernie Sanders said he will introduce a legislation to permanently ban the development of 'super-intelligent' AI
4 hours ago
The Kennedy Center board voted to close as a judge blocked new Trump memorials, intensifying a fight over the institution’s future
5 hours ago
Massie also took the remarkable step of making his resolution privileged, meaning he’s forcing it to the floor for a vote
5 hours ago
Trump says missing Butler evidence has resurfaced as he accuses ex-FBI chief Christopher Wray of mishandling probe
7 hours ago
Kash Patel accused Sen Peter Welch of lying about election operations before abruptly challenging his wealth during a tense exchange
7 hours ago
The push to add Trump’s name began in December 2025, when the Trump-aligned board voted to change the venue’s signage
7 hours ago
Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned Kash Patel if FBI will investigate reports that a Russian oligarch with ties to Putin paid for Don Jr’s Caribbean island wedding
7 hours ago
Speaker says lawmakers are ‘processing’ Trump’s proposed dividend after being challenged over its contrast with his attacks on communism
8 hours ago