Trump Courts Fetterman: ‘He’d Do Better as a Republican’
President Donald Trump made one of his most direct appeals yet for Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania to switch parties, telling reporters on Saturday that he would love to see the senator become a Republican.
The comments came as Trump returned to Washington from a midterm rally in Tennessee, and they arrive just weeks before the November elections could reshape control of Congress.
A Direct Pitch at Joint Base Andrews
Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday, Trump did not hold back about his admiration for the Pennsylvania senator.
“I’d love to see him as a Republican,” Trump said. “He does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat.”
The remark was the clearest overture yet in a courtship that has been building for months. With the GOP’s Senate majority at stake in next month’s elections, every seat matters — and Trump made clear he sees Fetterman as a natural fit for the Republican side.
Why Fetterman Is in the Spotlight
Fetterman was once a rising star among Democrats after his 2022 Senate victory, but his relationship with his own party has grown increasingly strained. The senator has broken with Democrats on several major issues, including immigration and Israel, fueling speculation that a party switch could be on the table.
Last month, Fetterman recorded a video for the Republican midterm convention in which he praised his fellow Pennsylvania senator, Republican Dave McCormick. In the video, Fetterman said he would always stand with America and reject the extremes, socialism, and what he called an anti-American way of life.
That appearance raised eyebrows in Washington and prompted fresh questions about where Fetterman’s political future lies.
Fetterman Has Pushed Back Before
For his part, Fetterman has repeatedly rejected the idea of becoming a Republican. Writing in The Washington Post in May, he said he would be a “terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.”
A representative for Fetterman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s latest remarks.
Even so, analysts note that his continued flirtations with the GOP could complicate any future Democratic primary run — a prospect Trump himself raised on Saturday while urging the party switch.
The Midterm Stakes
Trump’s pitch to Fetterman is part of a broader midterm blitz that has taken him across the country in recent weeks. The president has asked voters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his presidency, campaigning for Republican candidates in state after state.
Bringing a sitting senator into the Republican fold would be a major symbolic win for the party heading into the final stretch of the campaign — and Trump clearly sees an opening.
Keep Exploring
Trump Gaza Ceasefire at One Year: Hostages Home, UN Backs Plan
Trump Rallies San Antonio for Paxton Senate Bid
