Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa. )’s open-minded attitude towards President-elect Trump has raised questions about his motivations and angered some of his Democratic colleagues.
After Trump’s election in November, Fetterman emerged as a critic of his party’s messaging. He also indicated a willingness for the new administration’s ideas.
After the two men met in person last week, Trump praised the Pennsylvania senator. Fetterman was already a lightning rod for progressives because he supported Israel. His recent actions have further polarized his reputation within the party. Some see him as a candidate to become a national figure.
Eddie Vale is a long-time Democratic strategist. He said, “I wouldn’t rule out 100 percent that there are some thoughts about future or different opportunities.”
Some people are still unsure why Fetterman took certain positions in recent years.
It’s impossible to know with certainty what Fetterman is motivated by. Norman Solomon, an activist and strategist who founded RootsAction, said that he does political analysis rather than psychoanalysis. “But it is clear that he has moved rightward.”
In the week before Trump’s inauguration, speculation is rife about Fetterman’s role in Trump’s second term. Trump praised Fetterman shortly after the meeting. He called him “a fascinating person”, distinguishing him from Democrats who have remained distant.
Ford O’Connell is a Republican Strategist who suggested that Trump was being strategic by finding a Democrat to work with on Capitol Hill. He said that if the president-elect is willing to put the country before himself, he would be willing to work with him. “That’s the image he has been presenting.”
Both populist leaders are looking for a common ground before Jan. 20. According to the Washington Examiner, a Trump transition official confirmed the two had discussed areas of agreement, including Israel, the U.S.-Mexico border, and the future steel manufacturing.
Fetterman’s involvement is equally noteworthy, even though the meeting was at Trump’s request. He is a product of America’s most important battleground and convinced a diverse working-class group to support his Senate campaign in 2022.
Some Democrats saw Fetterman’s victory as a roadmap for how to rebuild trust with voters who earn low wages and don’t have college degrees. He was able to do this by convincing voters that he wasn’t a progressive, a distinction which won him more support statewide. Trump, a Republican who has changed Republicanism for himself, seemed to have picked up on this nuance. “He is a person of common sense.” “He’s neither liberal nor conservative,” said the incoming President about the senator, who stands at 6 feet 8 inches.
Although Fetterman has resisted the label of progressive, he did adopt a more left-leaning policy, which attracted the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Many left-wing Democrats believed that he was poised to assume the mantle as the representative for the working class in the upper chamber, by prioritizing union jobs and an increase in the federal minimum wage.
His recent moves have confused me. During the recent election against physician Mehmet OZ, Fetterman said that he wouldn’t be another “Manchin Democrat”, referring to former Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., who had blocked Biden in key areas. Some Democrats see Fetterman becoming more like Manchin and former Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz. ), who started with the Green Party, before becoming a reliable voter against Biden’s more liberal policies.
For longtime observers, however, Fetterman was always a bit chameleon. Christopher Nicholas, Pennsylvania-based GOP Consultant and Publisher of the PA Political Digest Newsletter said that when Fetterman first ran for Senate in 2016, he “ran as a younger taller Bernie bro.” He compared Fetterman’s approach to “a dog and pony show.”
Nicholas said, “He has a good sense of the situation and is aware that there is a new Sheriff in town.” “He is very adept at shocking people, and then returning with a retort if they appear shocked. It’s part of his routine.
Sources on both sides of politics say that Fetterman is intriguing because he lacks clarity about his ambitions and end goal. As the Senate confirms Trump’s Cabinet nominees, some Trump supporters see Fetterman as one of the key rising figures.
Fetterman’s support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is seen as likely to be “yes” when Trump nominates him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Fetterman’s personal health history may influence his decision after he has been working to recover following a recent stroke.
Vale, a Democratic strategist, believes it is worth accepting Fetterman at face value, despite the questions that swirl around his agenda.
Vale stated, “The]simple answer is exactly what he says.”
He added, “He’s a senator who is from a state with a 50/50 split and voted twice for Trump. So he wants to be in both worlds.”
