Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., branded Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdulrahman El-Sayed "Pontiac Platner" after the left-wing upstart called for the "ogre" to be put on a "pike" at a campaign event, in comments widely understood to reference the Pennsylvania lawmaker.A recording from a Zoom call with donors obtained by Politico appeared to depict El-Sayed railing against those who have criticized his far-left policy platform, while singling out Fetterman and allegedly envisioning his head on a stake.Fetterman later responded to CNBC’s Joe Kernen by blessing El-Sayed with a new nickname:"I never worked out in male modeling, you know you could call me "Senator Shrek" — whatever — but this guy is really the Pontiac Platner, and now he’s really running to be, be the head of our emerging pro-Hamas wing here in the party," Fetterman said of El-Sayed.DEM SENATE HOPEFUL UNDER FIRE FOR RESURFACED COMMENTS CALLING COPS 'OPPORTUNISTIC COWARDS'U.S.Sen.
John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks to reporters outside the Senate Chamber during votes on Nov.10, 2025 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)Pontiac is a well-known name in Michigan, stemming from the 18th-century Odawa chief to his namesake city and the now-defunct General Motors brand that was discontinued following the 2008 financial crisis.El-Sayed has routinely criticized the Israeli government, and some of his policy positions overlap with those of Maine oyster farmer Graham Platner, who dropped his Senate bid after a series of allegations of sexual misconduct involving women."Politically, some of the things that he said or done are unacceptable to me.I'm not really sure what I've really done or voted for that that has offended the little guy so much," Fetterman went on.BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONSSen.
John Fetterman, D-Pa., left; Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, right.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Sarah Rice/G...