- Trump mocked Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman's clothing and baselessly claimed he uses illicit drugs.
- Fetterman is running against Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania's Senate race.
Former President Donald Trump baselessly accused Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman of using drugs and disparaged his clothing while speaking at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night.
In his speech, Trump claimed without evidence that Fetterman supports "taxpayer-funded drug dens and the complete decriminalization of illegal drugs including heroin, cocaine and crystal meth and ultra-lethal fentanyl."
"And by the way, he takes them himself," Trump added.
There is no evidence to suggest Fetterman has ever used illicit drugs. Fetterman has never expressed support for decriminalizing the drugs mentioned by Trump, although he has advocated for marajuana decriminalization.
—Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 4, 2022
Fetterman is running in Pennsylvania against Trump-endorsed candidate Mehmet Oz, who gained fame as a TV doctor.
Trump appeared at the rally on Saturday in support of Republicans Oz and Doug Mastriano, the nominee for Pennsylvania governor.
During his speech, Trump also mocked Fetterman's signature casual attire.
"This guy is a disaster. He comes in with a sweatsuit on. I've never seen him wear a suit. A dirty, dirty, dirty sweatsuit. It's really disgusting. You know, I'm a clean freak. I'm a clean freak, Oz. I don't like those dirty sweatsuits. They're disgusting."
Per Reuters, Fetterman has previously said: "I do not look like a typical politician, nor do I look like a typical person. I don't mean to look scary. It's just kind of what I have to work with."
Fetterman has served as the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania since 2019 and was previously the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, for 13 years.
The Democratic candidate took to Twitter on Saturday night to respond to Trump's comments, calling him and Oz "desperate" and "sad dudes."
"More and more lies from Trump + Dr. Oz in Wilkes-Barre tonight," he said.
—John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) September 4, 2022
The Pennsylvania Senate race is one of the most closely watched in the country. Fetterman, currently ahead of Oz in multiple polls, has refused to debate the Republican after his campaign appeared to mock his recovery from a stroke he suffered in May.
The Oz campaign said: "At any point, John Fetterman can raise his hand and say "bathroom break!" and "we will pay for any additional medical personnel he might need to have on standby."
Fetterman told MSNBC that he believes Oz is running a "deeply unserious campaign," noting that he is a doctor "making fun of somebody that had a stroke."
Oz has since distanced himself from his campaign's comments, telling Pittsburgh radio station KDKA that "the campaign has been saying lots of things" and that he believes Fetterman should be "allowed to recover fully."