It started like any normal day — just a car ride home after a sleepover.
But when 13-year-old Karl, the eldest son of Gisele and Senator John Fetterman, casually asked, “Would you and Dad ever get divorced?” — it stopped Gisele in her tracks.
John immediately answered “no.” Gisele, however, chose honesty over comfort and replied “maybe.”
That response stunned her husband of 17 years.
But for Gisele, it was about being real with her kids and not sugarcoating life’s possibilities.
In her new book Radical Tenderness: The Value of Vulnerability in an Often Unkind World, Gisele opens up about that moment, explaining why she believes in showing her children the full range of what life can throw at them — including the idea that even strong marriages aren’t immune to change.
Teaching Her Kids That Honesty Matters More Than Perfection
Gisele, who was herself a child of divorce, said she didn’t want her children to believe that a breakup would be the end of the world.
Instead, she wants them to understand that people can grow, relationships can shift, and that sometimes separation brings more peace than staying together.
“I’m not the kind of mom who lies to her kids,” she wrote in the book.
“Marriage works while it works — and it’s okay when it doesn’t anymore.”
Balancing Politics, Parenting, and a Public Health Crisis
The book also peels back the curtain on the chaos that came with John Fetterman’s political life — especially during his 2022 Senate campaign, when he suffered a serious stroke.
Gisele recalls the exact moment she spotted something was wrong: a slight droop on his face.
It was subtle, but her instincts kicked in, and she rushed him to the hospital.
That quick decision led to a stroke diagnosis and emergency surgery to remove a dangerous clot.
Even while he was recovering, the campaign rolled on.
Gisele found herself stepping into the spotlight — giving speeches, handling media, even answering congratulatory calls from President Biden.
The Emotional Toll of Being Second Lady and Caregiver
While many saw her strength on camera, Gisele admits she was crying behind the scenes more often than anyone knew.
Being the wife of a political figure while juggling motherhood and medical crises left her emotionally drained — and she didn’t feel the need to hide that.
“To some, crying during interviews may seem weak,” she says.
“But I needed to be present, not perform.”
Fighting Off Media Narratives and Political Attacks
The campaign got ugly, with critics — including Dr. Mehmet Oz — using John’s stroke to call him unfit for office.
Gisele saw those attacks as cruel and ableist.
She also pushed back against claims that the family was hiding something.
“We were being as transparent as we possibly could,” she writes, defending their openness about John’s condition.
Depression, Recovery, and a Trip to Canada
After winning the Senate race, things didn’t magically get better.
In early 2023, John fell into a deep depression and checked himself into Walter Reed.
Again, Gisele noticed something was off.
The turning point came after John learned that a stroke survivor and journalist he admired had died by suicide.
She sat him down and said, “If you died tomorrow, the kids would remember you as someone really sad.
Is that what you want?” The very next day, he admitted himself for treatment.
Leaving the Spotlight and Facing Backlash
As soon as news broke, reporters swarmed their home.
Gisele packed up the kids and drove to Canada for space and peace — and was criticized for it.
But she stood her ground. “We needed time as a family. The media attention was suffocating.”
She also pointed out how rare — and powerful — it was for a political figure to be that vulnerable about mental health.
“Yes, it was messy,” she said, “but it worked. When John came home, he was himself again — stronger, more connected, and ready to lead.”
Behind the Scenes of a High-Profile Marriage
While the book stays mostly focused on Gisele’s perspective and doesn’t go into every controversy, some tensions have emerged recently — particularly over the war in Gaza, which reportedly caused friction between the couple.
According to reports, Gisele questioned John’s unwavering support for Israel, allegedly asking, “Where is the man I married?”
Rumors even swirled about her not wearing her wedding ring, which she later clarified was just a practical choice for her volunteer work as a firefighter.
Disagreements, But Still Together
There were also reports of past disagreements — including over a trip to Mar-a-Lago after John’s election.
Gisele didn’t want to go meet Trump, but John urged her, saying it was a chance to show the former president what a successful Dreamer looked like. She eventually agreed.
A Love Story That Embraces the Messiness
Gisele’s memoir doesn’t pretend everything is perfect.
Instead, it celebrates vulnerability, honesty, and the emotional work it takes to keep a family together — especially when you live much of that life in the public eye.
Through health scares, political battles, parenting, and personal doubts, she’s still standing beside John — and still willing to say the hard things out loud.