Fetterman says he's not planning on switching parties

Rob Tornoe and Julia Terruso, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Jan 20, 2025

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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., shot down rumors he plans to jump to the Republican Party after meeting with President Donald Trump.

“It’s not going to happen,” Fetterman told Semafor on Monday night. “And even if I wanted to do that, that is a rocket sled to Palookaville to try to switch. I would make a pretty bad Republican.”

Rumors have swirled due to Fetterman’s outreach to Republicans, including becoming the first sitting Democratic senator to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago. He also called for Joe Biden to pardon Trump in his New York hush-money case.

Fetterman, who attended Monday's inauguration wearing his trademark shorts and hoodie, sent a fundraising email out shortly after Trump took the oath with the subject line "my non-negotiables."

"Even though Donald Trump is officially back in the White House, I’m not backing down from fighting for what’s right," the email read.

He listed three somewhat vague categories: "the union way of life needs to live on, leave LGBTQ+ people...alone, and Government’s job is to make your life easier, not take away your rights."

On Monday night Fetterman was one of 12 Democrats to vote in favor of the GOP-backed Laken Riley immigration bill, which he also cosponsored. The bill passed the Senate with several GOP amendments and now heads back to the House for final passage.

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