Trump Says He’d ‘Love’ Fetterman to Join Republicans

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would welcome Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania into the Republican Party, adding fresh attention to the long-running speculation surrounding the Democratic senator’s political future.

Speaking to reporters after stepping off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Trump was asked whether he had spoken with Fetterman about becoming a Republican and whether he would support such a move. Trump responded enthusiastically, saying he would “love” to see it happen and describing Fetterman as “great.” He also suggested that Fetterman could face difficulty winning a Democratic nomination in the future.

Trump went further in his praise, calling Fetterman a “great guy” and a “very solid person.” He also said the senator had “magnificent parents” and noted that he had spoken with them before. Trump added that Fetterman is smart but, in his view, most importantly has “great common sense.”

The president also argued that a party switch could help Fetterman politically. Trump said polling shows the Pennsylvania senator performs better as a Republican than as a Democrat, though he did not cite specific surveys while making the claim.

The comments come as Fetterman has repeatedly drawn attention for breaking with fellow Democrats on several high-profile issues during the current session of Congress. Those differences have been especially notable on matters including immigration and the Iran war, even though his overall voting record still aligns with his party most of the time.

Since entering the Senate in 2023, Fetterman has voted with Senate Democrats nearly 90% of the time. During the current session of Congress, however, that number has dropped to just under 81%, according to previous Fox News Digital reporting. That decline has helped fuel talk that Fetterman may be carving out a more independent political identity, even if he remains formally within the Democratic Party.

Recent episodes have added to that speculation. Fetterman has reportedly used Republican fundraising platforms to seek donations, and he is known to have a close friendship with Sen. Katie Britt, a Republican from Alabama. Last month, he also recorded a video introducing Sen. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican, at the Republican Midterm Convention.

Moments that intensified party-switch talk

Another moment that stirred discussion came during an appearance at the Texas Tribune’s TribFest last month. When asked why he did not run as an independent, Fetterman mistakenly said, “Because I’m a lifelong Republican,” before quickly realizing the error. He then joked that the remark would likely be clipped and widely shared.

Even with those headline-grabbing moments, Fetterman has not announced any intention to leave the Democratic Party. His voting record still shows that he sides with Democrats the vast majority of the time, despite several visible departures on key issues.

Trump’s remarks are nevertheless likely to keep the conversation alive, especially as Republicans look for opportunities to expand their Senate strength. Public praise from a Republican president, combined with Fetterman’s occasional breaks from party orthodoxy, has made him an unusually discussed figure in both parties.

Fox News Digital reported that it has reached out to Fetterman’s office for comment. Alex Miller and Anders Hagstrom contributed to the original report.