Sen. Fetterman To Become First Democrat To Meet With Trump

Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman is frustrating members of his own party by breaking ranks and not reflexively opposing President-elect Donald Trump, as many Democrats have.

On Friday, Fetterman confirmed to reporters that he plans to visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, CBS News reported.

“That is the plan. Yes, we are going to have a conversation,” Fetterman stated regarding their upcoming meeting.

The meeting will mark the first time an elected Democrat senator has formally met with Trump since his election victory in November.

Fetterman explained his reasoning, saying, “He’s the president, or he will be officially. I think it’s pretty reasonable that if the president invites someone to have a conversation, they should have it. No one is my gatekeeper.”

He emphasized his commitment to representing all Pennsylvanians, not just Democrats. “I’ve made it clear that I engage in ongoing conversations with those who impact Pennsylvania and the nation. I’m a senator for Pennsylvania, not just for Democrats,” Fetterman said.

While many Democrats mocked Trump’s reported interest in acquiring Greenland, Fetterman refrained from dismissing the idea outright.

“I don’t know exactly what will come up, but regardless, that’s going to be part of the conversation,” he said to CBS News.

He also joked with reporters about his trip, quipping, “I’m angling to be named the pope of Greenland.”

In December, Fetterman made headlines for criticizing former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during an interview with Politico. When asked whether President Joe Biden should have withdrawn from the race after his debate performance against Trump, Fetterman didn’t hold back.

“Pelosi really tried to—what’s the word I’m looking for?—embrace this image as ‘the godmother, the enforcer.’ And now she’s blaming Biden,” Fetterman said.

“Well, you can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted,” he added, referring to Biden stepping aside and Vice President Kamala Harris stepping in, “and now you’re still blaming Biden.”

The Democratic Party has been fractured by internal conflicts, with various factions pointing fingers after losing the presidency, failing to retake the House of Representatives, and losing control of the Senate. Pelosi has suggested that Biden’s decision to back Harris contributed to her defeat.

Fetterman commented on Pelosi’s leadership, saying, “It’s ironic that at age 84, she’s still holding on. Why not give a younger generation a chance to lead?”

The senator also criticized Democrats who label Trump supporters as “fascists” based on their political beliefs.

“I love people who are absolutely going to vote for Trump. They’re not fascists. They’re not those things,” he said. “If Democrats lean on that kind of language, it’s hard to walk it back.”

He continued, “Words like that aren’t part of voters’ vernacular. Scolding or pearl-clutching harder isn’t a winning strategy for Democrats.”

Fetterman has also been vocal about his support for the Laken Riley Act in Congress, which addresses undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions.

“We have hundreds of thousands of migrants here illegally who have committed crimes. Why would anyone think it’s controversial to say they need to leave?” Fetterman told Fox News host Bret Baier.

He added, “There are 47 Democrats in the Senate. If we can’t find seven votes to support common-sense measures like this, it’s no wonder we lost.”