Well, that was cold.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) arrived at the Capitol for President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration in a black hoodie, gray gym shorts and sneakers — staying true to his traditional fashion style, despite the freezing temp outside.
Everyone else was seen wearing formal attire.
Sen. John Fetterman attended inauguration in a black hoodie, gray shorts and sneakers. REUTERS
US Senator John Fetterman (2nd L) arrives for the inauguration ceremony where Donald Trump will sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. AFP via Getty Images
Temperatures in the nation’s capital hovered around 20 degrees with a wind chill in the teens, as the senator entered the Capitol. Washington, DC, declared a cold weather emergency ahead of Inauguration Day and the swearing-in ceremony was moved indoors due to the potentially-dangerous weather.
But that didn’t deter Fetterman, 55 — who has long had a penchant for strutting through the Capitol, black tie dinners and other formal public settings in a hoodie and shorts — from sticking to his signature look.
He also didn’t appear to mind the cold as he powered through the frigid weather and entered the legislative building.
There have been a few exceptions throughout his Senate tenure in which Fetterman has been forced to actually dress like a senator — something that is typically a suit and tie-type of situation.
For instance, when he presides over Senate proceedings, Fetterman has begrudgingly donned a snappy suit and tie in keeping with the upper chamber’s policies.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., arrives before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. AP
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in 2023 sought to tweak the rules for Fetterman, but ultimately backed off in response to backlash from other senators.
Last year, during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Fetterman dusted off a tuxedo hoodie.
But the Inauguration didn’t motivate him to go the tuxedo hoodie route.
Fetterman has emerged as one of the most Trump-friendly Democrats in the Senate.
The hulking 6-foot-8-inch Keystone State senator trekked down to Mar-a-Lago last week and met with Trump.
“I’m not just a Senator for Democrats ‒ I’m a Senator for all Pennsylvanians,” he said about the visit.
After the meeting, Trump praised Fetterman as a “commonsense person” in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
Fetterman has signaled openness to crossing party lines and backing some of Trump’s picks for his cabinet and other key administration roles.
