Fetterman’s Tattoos Under Scrutiny in Pennsylvania Senate Race

Quick Take

John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor who is running for the U.S. Senate, has tattoos on his arms, some of which memorialize victims of violence. But conservative pundits — including Newt Gingrich — claim, without proof, that his tattoos suggest drug use and ties to a violent street gang.

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John Fetterman — the former mayor of a western Pennsylvania Rust Belt town called Braddock who later became lieutenant governor and is now running for the U.S. Senate — has tattoos.

He’s been asked about them and commented on some of them repeatedly over the years.

But two prominent conservative commentators — Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich — recently drew attention to the tattoos, sparking claims on social media that go so far as to say they are “satanic.”

There’s no evidence to support the claims about Fetterman’s tattoos. We’ll explain how this all developed, though.

In a roughly 18-minute segment about Fetterman on his Sept. 7 show, Carlson discussed Fetterman’s general appearance, finishing with, “all your stupid little fake tattoos — it’s a costume.”