U.S. Senator John Fetterman says his duty as a senator is to meet with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees.
And so far, the Pennsylvania Democrat appears to be taking the job seriously, as he has met with at least four of Trump’s nominees and plans to meet with others.
Fetterman was one of the few Democrats to meet with Trump voters, another example of the senator’s willingness to step away from party lines and join Trump’s world. He expressed his support for the candidacy of US Senator Marco Rubio (Florida) for the position of Secretary of State and for US Republican Elise Stefanik (New York), chosen by Trump as UN ambassador. Earlier this month, Fetterman joined Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform, in an effort to reach people on all sides of the political spectrum.
With U.S. Senate confirmation hearings approaching, Fetterman and other senators are meeting with Trump’s nominees for key positions. This is extremely scarce nominee may be rejected in the Senate, but some of Trump’s picks will likely face a more challenging hearing process than others.
“My votes will come from an open mind and an informed opinion after talking to them,” Fetterman said in part on Truth Social and X about his meetings with Trump’s nominees. “It’s not controversial, it’s my job.”
A spokesman for Fetterman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the senator’s plans to meet with other candidates or his voting plans during confirmation.
Here’s who Fetterman has met with so far:
Pete Hegseth
Fetterman was first Democrat in the Senate to meet with Pete Hegsethformer Fox News host and Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Hegseth is one of Trump’s more controversial picks. Hegseth stands face to face assault AND allegations of alcohol abuse.
Fetterman did not rule out Hegseth’s support, fluent ABC This week coach Jonathan Karl: “My commitment, and I think I’m doing my job, is that I will sit down and talk. And the president chose these people. I won’t be my first choice, second choice or third choice, but that’s democracy. And to me, it would be disturbing if, if confirmed, Democrats collectively turned their backs on the defense leader. I mean, it’s amazing and dangerous.
Hegseth expressed his appreciation for Fetterman and his “honesty, courage and hospitality” in: post on X earlier this month.
Kash Patel
Fetterman met with Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, who did just that he promised pursue Trump’s alleged political enemies. Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (R-Pa.) released a statement calling on President Joe Biden to grant full pardons to those who might be targeted by Patel, but Fetterman doesn’t seem as concerned.
“It will never happen” – Fetterman he told ABC Patel using the FBI to target perceived adversaries.
IN statement on Dec. 4, Boyle said Patel and Trump plan to investigate and prosecute perceived opponents, guided by an “enemies list” published in Patel’s book. In his 2022 book Government gangstersPatel lists 60 people in an appendix titled “Members of the Deep State Executive Branch.”
The list includes names ranging from Bill Barr, Trump’s former attorney general, to Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump also threatened to target his perceived political enemies, making over 100 threats to punish or prosecute his enemies since 2022, – NPR reported.
Tulsi Gabbard
Fetterman met last week with Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, and after meeting with Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill Gabbard told reporters: “It was great, we have great conversations.”
Gabbard, a former Democratic U.S. congresswoman from Hawaii, would not provide details of her conversation with Fetterman, and when asked by reporters if he had raised any concerns, she replied: “I will not speak on behalf of Senator Fetterman.”
Gabbard’s nomination has raised peaceful concerns among Republicans over her perceived sympathy for dictators, – NPR reportedwhile the GOP tiptoes about Gabbard’s switch to the Republican Party and her newfound position as a Trump ally.
Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq with a medical unit he has no intelligence experience.
Eliza Stefanik
Stefanika described She described her meeting with Fetterman this month as “a very productive meeting in which we discussed our shared commitment to supporting Israel and combating anti-Semitism.”
“Senator Fetterman shared his ideas for strong national security leadership, and I highlighted my ideas for implementing the President [Trump’s] America First Peace Through Strength National Security Agenda,” she continued in her X post.
In response to the post, Fetterman said he unequivocally supports Stefanik. “It has always been a difficult YES for me [Elise Stefanik]” he said.
Support for Israel appears to be driving Fetterman’s support for Stefanik and Rubio
As was the case with his support for Stefanik, Fetterman’s unwavering alliance with Israel appears to be guiding his support or openness to some of Trump’s other picks for key positions in his second administration.
Last month, the Pennsylvania senator announced his intention to vote to confirm Rubio to lead the State Department, calling the Florida senator “a definite choice.”
Fetterman admitted that “It’s no surprise that the other team’s pick will have political differences than mine.” But Rubio and Fetterman agree on their strong support for Israel and Israel’s war against Hamas.
Fetterman z with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this summerand his stance has caused tension among former progressive supporters who have been demonstrating against the Gaza war since last year.
Rubio, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, compared the IDF operation in Rafah to the Allies’ pursuit of Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust. according to the Forwardan independent news organization aimed at the Jewish population in the United States.
Hegseth, whom Fetterman seems open to, as well quoted their collective support for Israel.
“I appreciate our time together and your commitment to the troops, American defense and our ally, Israel,” Hegseth said in X.
