Trump says he'd 'love' to have Sen. John Fetterman as a Republican

President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he would welcome Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., into the Republican Party. Speaking after stepping off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Trump responded to questions about whether the Pennsylvania Democrat might switch parties by saying, "I'd love to see it. 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 characterized Fetterman as a "great guy" with "magnificent parents," noting that he had previously spoken with the senator. The president described Fetterman as a "very solid person" who is "smart and all that, but he's got great common sense." He also suggested that a party change could improve Fetterman's political standing, claiming that polling data shows the senator performs better as a Republican than as a Democrat.

The remarks come amid increased speculation regarding Fetterman's political future. While the senator has voted with Senate Democrats nearly 90% of the time since joining the chamber in 2023, that figure has dropped to just under 81% during the current congressional session, according to Fox News Digital. Fetterman has repeatedly broken with his party on issues such as the Iran war and immigration, though he continues to align with Democrats in most votes.

Recent activities have further fueled talk of a potential switch. Fetterman has utilized Republican fundraising channels to solicit donations and maintains a close relationship with Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. Last month, he recorded a video introducing Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., at the Republican Midterm Convention. Additionally, during an appearance at the Texas Tribune's TribFest last month, Fetterman mistakenly identified himself as a lifelong Republican when asked why he did not run as an independent. After realizing the error, he remarked that the moment would surely be clipped for media coverage.

Fox News Digital has contacted Fetterman's office for comment.