Trump urges Senator John Fetterman to join Republican Party at Joint Base Andrews
President Donald Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Oct. 10, 2026 that he would like Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania to switch parties and become a Republican.
Trump said the senator was "a great guy" with "magnificent parents" and added, "I’d love to see it. I think he’s great. It’s going to be hard for him to get the nomination as a Democrat, but I’d love to have him as a Republican." He also claimed that polling showed Fetterman performed better among Republican voters than Democrats.
"If you look at the polls, he does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat," Trump said.
Fetterman, who has served in the Senate since 2023, rebuffed the suggestion, stating he would remain a Democrat and continue to vote with his party. The senator warned that a party switch would make him a "liar" and underscored his commitment to the Democratic ballot.
According to multiple reports, Fetterman’s voting record aligns closely with Senate Democrats, with about 90% of his votes supporting the party’s positions overall and just under 81% during the current session. He has broken with Democrats on a few high‑profile issues, notably the Iran war and immigration, and has occasionally used Republican fundraising platforms.
Despite those occasional divergences, Fetterman maintains close ties with some Republican figures, including a friendship with Senator Katie Britt of Alabama and a recent video appearance introducing Senator Dave McCormick at the Republican Midterm Convention. He also mistakenly referred to himself as a lifelong Republican at a Texas Tribune event before correcting the remark.
The timing of Trump’s remarks coincided with a rally in Tennessee and came as both parties race to secure a Senate majority in the November midterms. Control of the chamber could hinge on a few swing states, and Republicans have hinted that convincing the Senate’s last moderate Democrat to cross the aisle would bolster their odds.
Political analysts note that while Fetterman enjoys relatively high favorability among Pennsylvania Republicans—roughly 72% in recent polls—his approval among Democrats remains low, at about 13%. Nonetheless, his public statements reinforce a clear intention to stay within the Democratic caucus.
Trump’s invitation adds another layer to the broader Republican strategy of targeting vulnerable Democratic incumbents. As the election calendar tightens, both parties are expected to intensify outreach to undecided voters and key swing constituencies.
Fetterman’s office has not indicated any change in his campaign plans, and the senator is slated to appear at several Democratic fundraising events in the weeks ahead, suggesting the party line will remain unchanged as the midterm battle approaches.
