Sen. John Fetterman plans to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Jan 9, 2025

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Sen. John Fetterman plans to visit President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago as the Pennsylvania Democrat cements his role as one of the most moderate members of the party.

The burly first-term lawmaker is expected to jet to Palm Beach over the weekend at Trump’s invitation, although Trump transition officials warned that the meeting was not set in stone.

“I’m the Senator for all Pennsylvanians — not just Democrats,” Fetterman said in a statement

He added that he doesn’t let party leaders tell him whom to meet or stances to take.

“No one is my gatekeeper. I will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation,” Fetterman said.

Fetterman has said he is open to voting for several of Trump’s cabinet nominees including Pete Hegseth, the controversial appointee for Secretary of Defense.

Aides said the men will likely discuss Trump’s other cabinet nominees, an upcoming reconciliation package, and energy, a key issue in oil and coal-producing Pennsylvania.

Fetterman could be the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to meet with Trump since the November election put Trump on a glide path back to the White House.

Fetterman won election in 2022 by running as a progressive working class candidate, overcoming a stroke that he suffered on the eve of the Democratic primary that was a major issue in his campaign against TV doctor Mehmet Oz.

Despite their bitter rivalry, Fetterman says he has not decided whether to back Oz’s confirmation to a top health post in the Trump administration.

He has also emerged as a voice to the right of the Democratic leadership in Congress on issues like Israel and immigration.

Fetterman was one of the first Democrats to back the Republican-sponsored Laken Riley Act, which aims to crackdown on undocumented immigrants who commit relatively minor crimes.

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