John Fetterman stuns with four-word comeback after viral 'ogre' jab

By CHASE HOPE, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE DAILY MAIL and JON MICHAEL RAASCH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT Published: 22:00, 27 July 2026 | Updated: 22:02, 27 July 2026 Senator John Fetterman fired off a four-word comeback after being called an 'ogre' by a progressive candidate: 'I'll take Senator Shrek.' Abdul El-Sayed, running in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, expressed a ruthless plan for advancing his left-wing policies on a leaked campaign Zoom call. During an online donor meeting in the leadup to the August 4 primary, El-Sayed was asked how he would handle not being able to 'get any policy over the finish line' during Donald Trump's last two years, according to audio obtained by Politico Playbook. He said he thought an electoral victory would provide him a powerful platform, given the copious spending undertaken against him by traditional campaign entities like American Israel Public Affairs Committee. 'What they don't really realize is that in spending so much money, they're turning me into David,' El-Sayed said. 'So if I'm the guy who came through and beat Goliath, now all of a sudden you just gave me the best platform in the entire US Senate.' Then he suggested using that left-wing platform to oust Fetterman, a more moderate Democrat from Pennsylvania who isn't up for re-election until 2028.  'Primarying people like John Fetterman, I have no problem to do that,' El-Sayed said. 'People are like, 'We don't primary the Senate.' I'm like: Watch me do it. Tell me why I should stop.' 'And then what happens, ideally, you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message,' El-Sayed added. 'I'll take Senator Shrek over the 'Pontiac Platner' any day,' Fetterman told the Daily Mail when asked about El-Sayed's remarks, associating the Michigander with scandal-plagued former Maine candidate Graham Platner. Fetterman, pictured in the Capitol on June 5, clapped back after El-Sayed's 'ogre' comment  El-Sayed speaks at a Senator Bernie Sanders 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally in Detroit in May Fetterman speaks to reporters following a briefing for members of the Senate on U.S. strikes on Iran on March 3 Fetterman, who is known for his towering stature, was also called an 'ogre' in a May social media video from El-Sayed. But the Pennsylvanian shrugged off what may have been a personal insult.  Representative Haley Stevens - the sitting Democrat El-Sayed is opposing in the primary - pounced on his inflammatory comments. Her campaign said he was spending too much time on 'personal insults' and nationwide concerns instead of his home state. 'Haley [Stevens] is focused on getting things done for Michigan, and only Michigan,' Stevens spokesperson Arik Wolk said in a statement. El-Sayed had previously faced criticism after another leaked campaign call showed a sensitivity for grieving Michigan Muslims making him hesitate to comment on the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  El-Sayed's platform is stridently anti-establishment. His campaign website advertises policies like abolishing ICE, ending the filibuster, placing an arms embargo on Israel, additionally taxing billionaires, and providing Medicare to all Americans. While he enjoys the endorsement of progressives like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Stevens has the support of establishment Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.  Stevens, a more conventional candidate, speaks to the media before a rally in Detroit last Friday El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.  He and Stevens have the final debate of their acrimonious campaign on Monday night, just eight days before next Tuesday's primary. The winner will face former Representative Mike Rogers in November.