Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and comedian Bill Maher have both expressed concerns that the Democratic Party’s recent defense of anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles could be perceived as beneficial to President Trump. They believe the chaotic imagery from the riots, including a now-infamous photo of a rioter standing on a burning car with the Mexican flag, will be used in campaign ads to bolster Trump’s image.
Maher, a long-time critic of the political left, noted that some on the left have condemned Fetterman for his stance against the riots and agreed that it doesn’t do the Democratic Party any good to defend the violent protests. Fetterman, who has been increasingly vocal about law and order, issued a strong message on X, a social media platform, denouncing the riots and including the photo of the rioter on a burning car with the Mexican flag.
He emphasized that most Americans do not want to see Los Angeles in turmoil again, and the repeated images of chaos could have a negative impact on the party’s image, particularly in the context of national elections. Fetterman also reflected on the political impact of such imagery, asking, ‘What’s the people in Scranton might see those kinds of images and those kinds of videos?’
Meanwhile, Maher has pointed out that his views on free speech and immigration still align with core Democratic values, but critics are targeting him for not being a ‘progressive’ in today’s political landscape. He described himself as an ‘old-school Democrat,’ a term that resonates with Fetterman as well. Both men are suggesting that the party’s shift in values is making it difficult for members to maintain their original principles without facing political backlash.
This discussion comes amid ongoing discussions about the role of social media in shaping public opinion and political discourse, as well as the impact of such events on national elections and the perception of the Democratic Party.