Trump Urges Fetterman to Switch Parties, Citing 'Great Common Sense'

President Donald Trump has expressed a desire for Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman to join the Republican Party, stating that the senator possesses "great common sense" and would "do better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat."

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday evening, Trump suggested that Fetterman might find it difficult to secure a nomination as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate. "I would love to have him as a Republican," Trump added.

The former president's remarks come as Republicans aim to strengthen their hold on the Senate. A Quinnipiac University poll released last Wednesday indicated that Fetterman holds a 72 percent favorability rating among Republicans, with only 13 percent of Democrats viewing him favorably. Conversely, 69 percent of Democrats viewed him negatively, compared to 19 percent of Republicans. Among independents, 49 percent held a negative view of Fetterman, while 27 percent viewed him positively.

Trump also commended Fetterman's parents, describing them as "magnificent." An investigation by The Philadelphia Inquirer revealed that Fetterman frequently traveled from Washington, D.C., to visit his parents in York, Pennsylvania, a trip of approximately 100 miles, before returning to the Capitol the following day. The investigation also noted that Fetterman's campaign had spent $8,900 on hotel stays in York and a total of $168,700 on lodging.

This is not the first instance of Fetterman aligning himself with Republican sentiment or Trump. During the Texas Tribune festival last month, Fetterman, who experienced a stroke in 2022, mistakenly stated that he had always been a Republican. When questioned about potentially becoming an independent, he replied, "I was a lifelong Republican," before being corrected by the host. Earlier in September, Fetterman addressed the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas via video, offering praise for fellow Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick and highlighting his work with President Trump.

While Fetterman has maintained relationships with some Republicans and has faced internal criticism from within the Democratic Party for his perceived closeness to GOP figures, he has publicly rejected speculation about switching parties. Following the video address to the Republican convention, Fetterman stated in a release to The Washington Sun that he is "a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party." He also affirmed that if the Senate flips in November, he would serve as the "51st vote" he campaigned on.

Fetterman has previously indicated a potential breaking point for his allegiance to the Democratic Party. In June, he stated that if the party were to officially become "the anti-Israel party," he would leave, citing "moral clarity" on the issue. He expressed a "long-term concern" about the Democratic Party potentially distancing itself from Israel. In the same month, 103 out of 211 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against providing aid to Israel, with an additional 10 voting "present."