President Donald Trump said he would “love to see” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) cross the aisle and join the Republican Party as the freshman senator continues to quash suggestions that he flip parties.
Fetterman has maintained that he plans to stay with the Democratic Party despite occasionally stepping into the GOP sphere. Trump addressed the possibility of Fetterman switching parties on Saturday.
“I’d love to see it,” Trump said. “I think he’s great. It’s going to be hard for him to get the nomination as a Democrat, but I’d love to have him as a Republican.”
Trump’s characterization of Fetterman doing “better” as a Republican is not necessarily out of the blue, as a recent poll found the senator is performing well among GOP voters. Roughly 72% of Republican voters in Pennsylvania have a favorable opinion of Fetterman, while only 13% of Democrats hold him in the same regard.
The president also praised Fetterman’s character, saying he’s a “solid person” who comes from “magnificent parents.”
Fetterman has been particularly supportive of Trump’s military operations in Iran despite the war leading to high costs for Americans at home. He said he supports the president’s efforts to bar Tehran from ever having a nuclear weapon.
Fetterman has repeatedly asserted his intention to remain a Democrat, and he votes with the caucus the majority of the time. However, on several high-profile votes, including those related to the Iran war, Fetterman has bucked his party and voted with Republicans.
The senator has also struggled with his party’s embrace of socialist candidates looking to enter Congress in the midterm elections, many of whom have made opposition to Israel a major point on the campaign trail. Fetterman has called support for Israel a non-negotiable priority, characterizing any anti-Israel policies in the Democratic Party or severing of aid as a “red line.”
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Last month, Fetterman made his intention to remain a Democrat clear, raising his voice at a reporter who asked about a potential party switch.
Fetterman has also supported Republicans and joined GOP gatherings outside of Washington. The Washington Examiner exclusively reported that he attended a retreat with executives from Fox News, traveling to Montana in July at the invitation of the network’s owners. He also made a video appearance at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention last month, praising President Donald Trump and his colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), which was met with backlash from his party.