Sen. John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said he wants President-elect Trump to succeed and spoke out against those who feel otherwise.
Fetterman appeared on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. His more than 10-minute sit-down segment was pre-recorded with co-anchor Jonathan Karl.
“I’m not rooting for him,” the Democratic senator said. “When you’re rooting for the president, you’re rooting for the country. And I’ll never be in a position where I want the president to fail. So the country comes first. I know it’s become something of a cliché, but it just happens to be true.”
The senator told Kahl that he never believed Trump’s movement was about fascism, but noted that it was Vice President Kamala Harris’ “privilege” to call Trump a fascist during the campaign. did.
Fetterman meets with Trump nominees, pledges ‘open mind and informed opinion’ ahead of confirmation vote
Sen. John Fetterman speaks with West Point cadets on the Senate Metro on November 19, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
“Fascism is not a word that normal people use, is it?” Fetterman said. “I think people are going to decide who the candidate is who will protect and project a personal version of the American way of life. And that’s what happened.”
Fetterman has met with Trump administration Cabinet nominees and noted that decisions about whether to vote to confirm nominees are made with an open mind and an informed perspective.
Fetterman says Democrats shouldn’t ‘panic’ over Trump’s every move: ‘It’s going to take another four years’
Sen. John Fetterman and Rep. Elise Stefanik, who was nominated by the Trump administration to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. (@EliseStefanik from X)
“I believe it is appropriate and the responsibility of U.S. senators to have a dialogue with President-elect Trump’s nominees. That’s why Elise Stefanik and Pete Hegseth, who just wrapped Tulsi Gabbard, I look forward to meeting him and meeting others soon,” Fetterman declared in a post to X.
“My vote comes from an open mind and informed opinion after talking with them. It’s not controversial. That’s my job,” he continued.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman gestures and speaks at a rally for Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on October 2, 2024 in York, Pennsylvania. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Fetterman said more than a month ago that Democrats can’t afford to be “furious” about everything Trump says and does. He echoed similar sentiments on Sunday, noting that President Trump has not yet taken office.
FOX News’ Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
