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President Donald Trump praised Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as a “great guy” on Saturday, saying he would welcome the Pennsylvania Democrat into the Republican Party.
Trump was asked by a reporter after stepping off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews whether he had spoken to Fetterman — who has repeatedly broken with Democrats during the current session of Congress — about becoming a Republican and whether he would welcome such a switch.
“I’d love to see it. I think he’s great,” Trump responded.
“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,” he continued.
REPUBLICANS SAY THEY’D WELCOME FETTERMAN AS GOP EYES BIGGER SENATE MAJORITY
President Donald Trump said he would welcome Democratic Sen. John Fetterman into the Republican Party, praising the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s judgment and common sense. (Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)
Trump described Fetterman as a “great guy” with “magnificent parents,” whom he said he had spoken with previously.
“He’s a very solid person,” Trump added. “He’s smart and all that, but he’s got great common sense.”
Trump also suggested that switching parties could benefit Fetterman politically.
“If you look at the polls, he does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat,” he said.
MAVERICK DEMOCRAT SURGES WITH REPUBLICANS AS HIS OWN PARTY TURNS ON HIM, STOKING TALK OF GOP SWITCH
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks to reporters following a briefing by Trump administration officials to members of the Senate on U.S. strikes on Iran, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 2026. (Sen. John Fetterman)
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.
Since joining the Senate in 2023, Fetterman has voted with Senate Democrats nearly 90% of the time. During the current session of Congress, however, that figure has fallen to just under 81%, Digital previously reported.
Fetterman’s occasional breaks with his party have fueled speculation in recent months about whether he might eventually become a Republican. He has also reportedly used Republican fundraising platforms to solicit donations and maintains a close friendship with Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala.
Last month, Fetterman recorded a video introducing Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., at the Republican Midterm Convention.
FETTERMAN TEASES WHERE HIS TRUE LOYALTY LIES AFTER SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT GOP CONVENTION
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has broken with fellow Democrats on several high-profile issues, prompting speculation about his political future. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
He also mistakenly referred to himself as a lifelong Republican during an appearance at the Texas Tribune’s TribFest last month.
An attendee at the event asked why Fetterman did not run as an independent.
“Because I’m a lifelong Republican,” he said, before realizing his mistake. “I guarantee you that will break through. That will get clipped.”
Digital has reached out to Fetterman’s office for comment.
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Digital’s Alex Miller and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
