Trump Says He Would Welcome Sen. John Fetterman Into Republican Party

President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he would "love" to see Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., join the Republican Party, describing the senator as a "great guy."

Trump's remarks came as he responded to a reporter's question after stepping off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews regarding any conversations with Fetterman about switching parties. "I'd love to see it. I think he's great," Trump said. "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."

The former president also commented on Fetterman's character and intellect, calling him "a very solid person," "smart," and possessing "great common sense." Trump also mentioned speaking with Fetterman's parents, whom he described as "magnificent."

Trump suggested that such a party switch could be politically advantageous for Fetterman, noting, "If you look at the polls, he does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat."

Speculation about Fetterman's political alignment has grown due to his occasional departures from the Democratic party line on key issues. While he votes with Senate Democrats nearly 90% of the time since joining the Senate in 2023, this figure has dropped to just under 81% during the current session of Congress. Notable instances include votes on the Iran war and immigration.

Fetterman has also reportedly utilized Republican fundraising platforms and maintains a friendly relationship with Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. In a recent event, Fetterman introduced Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., at the Republican Midterm Convention. He also momentarily referred to himself as a "lifelong Republican" during an appearance at the Texas Tribune's TribFest, a comment he acknowledged would likely be widely shared.

Fetterman's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <!image src="" alt="President Donald Trump passes Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as he departs after delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Feb. 24, 2026." /> <!image src="" alt="Trump's comments come as Fetterman has repeatedly broken with Democrats on key issues, including the Iran war and immigration, although he continues to vote with his party the vast majority of the time." /> <!image src="" alt="President Trump speaks to reporters after returning to Joint Base Andrews on Oct. 10, 2026." /> <!image src="" alt="Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., participates in a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting on the Agricultural Act of 2026 in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, on Sept. 16, 2026." />