Patriot Pulse

Fetterman Falls Silent as Democrats Who Defended His Hoodie Ejected a Republican Over an American Flag Suit

Hamburg Studios image via Shutterstock
Hamburg Studios image via Shutterstock

John Fetterman wore a hoodie to the United States Senate and Pennsylvania Democrats called it a stand against elitism.

Now a Pennsylvania House Democrat just ejected a Republican for wearing an American flag suit days before July Fourth.

John Fetterman has not said a single word about what his own party just did.

Security Guard Delivers the Ultimatum

State Rep. Eric Davanzo of Westmoreland County walked into Tuesday's session wearing a red-and-white-striped jacket and a blue-and-white-starred tie – an American flag tribute heading into the nation's 250th birthday weekend.

He greeted colleagues and stopped to chat with House Minority Whip Timothy O'Neal.

Then O'Neal vanished.

He came back minutes later with a message Davanzo wasn't expecting: Speaker McClinton had declared the patriotic outfit inappropriate and wanted Davanzo off the floor.

Davanzo held his ground – until a House security guard arrived with the formal ultimatum.

Remove the jacket, or leave.

"Instead of taking my jacket off, I walked off the House Floor," Davanzo told Fox News Digital.

He later posted a video saying he would "never apologize for putting patriotism before politics."

Some Democratic colleagues found Davanzo afterward in the Capitol and said they disagreed with the ejection.

One Philadelphia Democrat – Rep. Jordan Davis of Gray's Ferry – had already called it on the floor, telling Davanzo the jacket was "very patriotic."

McClinton Calls the American Flag a Costume

McClinton doubled down, calling the American flag suit a "costume" and invoking the dignity of the chamber to justify ejecting a patriot four days before Independence Day.

"We don't allow costumes on the floor of the House for any holiday," she said, pointing to two large American flags hanging in the back of the chamber as proof of sufficient patriotism.

Pennsylvania House rules say only that "appropriate business attire is required while on the House floor" – with "appropriate" left deliberately undefined and the Speaker given sole discretion over what qualifies.

Davanzo noted the conveniently selective enforcement.

Camo jackets, top hats, and tennis shoes have all passed McClinton's standard without incident.

The American flag suit was where she drew the line.

Pennsylvania Democrats spent years defending John Fetterman's right to wear whatever he wanted to the United States Senate – but an American flag suit in Harrisburg crossed a different line entirely.

McClinton's spokesperson said House Democrats came to Harrisburg to do "the serious work of passing a responsible budget" and accused House Republicans of showing up in costumes while the Senate took an early holiday vacation.

"This wasn't a costume," Davanzo fired back. "This is something that I truly believe in. I'm a patriot."

Democrats Let Pride Through but Not Patriotism

Earlier in June, Pennsylvania House Democrats organized members to wear Pride colors for a coordinated photo on that same House floor.

No costumes were declared. No security was called.

"They were asked to dress in pride colors because they were going to do a House photo on the floor," Davanzo said. "That's OK – we can take our photos for pride but we can't show up as a patriot and take a photo or even get on the House floor apparently."

Davanzo then held up McClinton's own Pride Month statement – the one in which she called on members to be "authentic" and "love freely."

Davanzo's answer was sharp and direct.

"You're only able to love freely because the brave men and women died for this flag," he said. "They died for our country. This is complete hypocrisy."

The Pennsylvania Republican Party backed him up, issuing a statement pointing out that Democrats wore "progressive, pride-themed shirts and hats throughout June" while McClinton sent security after a man in a red white and blue suit.

House Minority Whip O'Neal put it plainly: "As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, apparently patriotic attire is not allowed."

Davanzo is a Bicentennial Baby – born in 1976, turning 50 this year – whose district sits just 250 miles from Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago on July Fourth.

He chairs the America First Caucus and introduced legislation to give every Pennsylvania family household a $250 check marking the nation's 250th birthday.

"What is so wrong with what I have on?" he asked.

John Fetterman Has Not Said a Word

Fetterman's Pennsylvania Democrats – the ones who spent years defending his Senate hoodie – just showed a Republican what those principles are worth.

The senator who told the country "the world didn't spin off its axis" when he wore shorts to preside over the United States Senate has had nothing to say about an American flag suit being declared a costume in Harrisburg.

His own feed carries a post declaring that "patriotism must transcend politics."

Four days before America's 250th birthday, Eric Davanzo wore it.

Sources:

  • Charles Creitz, "SEE IT: Pennsylvania Democrats Boot GOP Lawmaker From House Floor Over Patriotic America 250 Suit," Fox News, July 2, 2026.
  • "Pennsylvania Lawmaker Leaves House Floor Over Flag-Themed Jacket Dispute Amid Budget Talks," Fox43, July 1, 2026.
  • Pennsylvania Republican Party (@PAGOP), X, July 1, 2026.
  • Sen. John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA), X, July 2026.
  • "Fetterman Explains Why He Wore Suit to State of the Union," Washington Examiner, February 27, 2026.

Start Commenting!