Trump isn’t a normal politician. He’s breaking every norm.
And Trump’s confession in a big interview is sending shockwaves throughout the D.C. establishment.
Donald Trump may not be the cup of tea for many people, and that’s fine. What you can’t take from him, though, is that he’s very pragmatic. He’s always looking at what the consequences and outcomes of actions are, rather than just getting caught up in the weeds of the D.C. political ring. He wants to know if he pulls certain levers what their outcomes are and how he can use them to improve America. It’s really that simple, and many Americans find this approach way more refreshing than the untrustworthy neocon-neoliberal politicians like George Bush, John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.
He’s reshaped the Republican Party to reflect this more pragmatic side of GOP politics that used to characterize the Party up until Ronald Reagan left office nearly forty years ago. This is why Donald Trump recently called the Republican Party the “party of commonsense” back during the 2024 campaign cycle. He believes the commonsense of the American public’s general wisdom is important and shouldn’t be ignored like the political establishment class has for years now.
He’s fond of that “commonsense” label, and he’s even handing it out to a Democrat U.S. Senator that has earned the reputation of being a no-nonsense, average Joe in the U.S. Senate chamber. Donald Trump may be trying to convince this important U.S. Senate Democrat to convert to the GOP like many Democrats have in recent years.
Donald Trump Praises Democrat U.S. Senator John Fetterman As “Beautiful, Commonsense”
President-elect Donald Trump had high praise for Senator John Fetterman following a weekend meeting at Mar-a-Lago, calling the Pennsylvania Democrat “fascinating” and “impressive.” The meeting, which was the first time a sitting Democratic Senator visited Trump at his Palm Beach estate since the 2024 election, covered a range of topics from national security to foreign policy.
In a Sunday interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump spoke highly of Fetterman, describing their conversation as “totally fascinating.” “He’s a fascinating man, and his wife is lovely,” Trump said. “They were both up, and I couldn’t be more impressed.” Trump also commended Fetterman’s approach to politics, calling him a “commonsense person” who does not adhere strictly to liberal or conservative ideologies. “He’s just a commonsense person, which is beautiful,” Trump added.
The two discussed a variety of key issues, including the controversial potential purchase of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel, which was blocked by President Joe Biden earlier this month. Both Trump and Fetterman opposed the deal, citing concerns about national security and the impact on American jobs, particularly in blue-collar industries.
They also touched on the topic of Greenland, with Trump noting his long-standing interest in annexing the Danish territory — a subject Fetterman humorously referenced during the meeting. Fetterman joked that he accepted Trump’s invitation because he hoped to become the “Pope of Greenland,” referencing Trump’s previous discussions on the matter.
Fetterman, who had been an outspoken progressive when elected in 2022, has shifted toward the political center since recovering from a stroke during his campaign. Despite his shift in focus, he has remained open to cooperation with political opponents, including Trump. When questioned about his meeting with the president-elect, Fetterman shrugged off any criticism, emphasizing his willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue. “I think it’s pretty reasonable that if the president would like to have a conversation—or invite someone to have a conversation—to have it. And no one is my gatekeeper,” he told CBS News.
Fetterman after meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago:
“It was a totally fascinating … he's a fascinating man, and his wife is lovely… I couldn't be more impressed. He’s a commonsense person. He's not a liberal or conservative… which is beautiful.” pic.twitter.com/VZWce5JEid
— The American Conservative (@amconmag) January 13, 2025
The senator also defended his support for Israel, which has caused tension with some of the more progressive factions of his party. Fetterman garnered attention for his unwavering support of Israel, especially following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. His outspoken backing of Israel’s actions during the conflict and his focus on the hostages held by Hamas marked a turning point in his political trajectory, even drawing praise from Trump. “He really was impressive, and I’m glad I got to speak to him. And he loves Pennsylvania, and he loves our country,” Trump said.
The meeting also saw Trump and Fetterman discussing a new piece of legislation, the Laken Riley Act, which aims to empower federal authorities to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft until they can be deported. The bill has garnered significant bipartisan support in the Senate, with Trump expressing his satisfaction at the cooperation between Republicans and Democrats. “It’s been amazing, and there’s been cooperation within the Republicans and a lot of the Democrats. I will say that Senator Fetterman was very impressive to me, really impressive,” Trump remarked.
NEW: John Fetterman says if Democrats can’t get 7 votes in the Senate to pass the Laken Riley Act, then “that’s the reason why we lost."
“If you're here illegally and you're committing crimes, I don't know why anybody thinks that it's controversial, that they all need to go." pic.twitter.com/e0tDEK72uO
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 8, 2025
Fetterman’s meeting with Trump comes shortly after his recent encounter with Senator Dave McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who flipped a crucial Senate seat by defeating three-term Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. Fetterman and McCormick, along with their wives, described the meeting as a positive and cordial get-together, signaling a potential shift toward more bipartisan cooperation in the state’s politics.
Fetterman’s Political Future In Limbo Without Party To Call Home
For now, Fetterman is a registered Democrat and is in caucus with the Democrats in the U.S. Senate chamber. That doesn’t appear to be changing right now, though it’s not hard to see it happening in-between terms. Fetterman has said, though, that he’s uninterested in joining the ranks of the Republicans of the Congressional Upper Chamber. Combine that with his comfortability with criticizing his Democrat allies, he could be without a Party some point soon.
He’s a part of a growing bloc of disaffected Democrats and former Democrats who just can’t believe how unhinged the Democrat Party is. Some others of this ilk include former Hawaii Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, and current U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, just to name a few.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
