Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said he hopes President-elect Donald Trump succeeds in his second term and is not “rooting against him.”
“If you’re rooting against the president, you’re rooting against the nation,” Fetterman told ABC “This Week” anchor Jonathan Karl. “So country first. I know maybe it’s become like a cliché, but it’s true.”
Fetterman, who has been one of the few in his party to meet with several of Trump’s cabinet appointees, said his fellow Democrats should “take it easy” on whatever Trump does.
“I’ve warned people, like, ‘You gotta chill,’ you know? Like constant, you know, freakout, it’s not helpful,” Fetterman said. “Prepare the appetizer, take a step, because he hasn’t even taken office yet.”
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl sits down with Sen. John Fetterman in the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing room.
Julia Cherner/ABC News
Asked by Karl the biggest factor behind Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in November, Fetterman pointed to Trump’s “undeniable” and “unique political talent.”
“He had an energy and almost a sense of fearlessness to say all those kinds of things,” Fetterman said. “You were literally shot in the head and you had the presence of mind to respond, you know, ‘Fight, fight, fight!’ I mean, that’s political talent.”
Fetterman also said the election was “never about fascism.” Harris said at a town hall in October that he believed Trump was a fascist after Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, said he fit the definition of his old boss. Fetterman said that was not the word he would have used.
“Fascism, that’s not a word that ordinary people use, you know?” Fetterman said. “I think people will decide who’s the candidate they’re going to support and project, you know, my version of the American way of life, and that’s what happened.”
Fetterman also pointed to Elon Musk’s endorsement of Trump as another key factor in the election.
“It’s great to have a replacement that has a lot of fanboys and is very attractive to a lot of the demographics that we’re losing in my party and in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said of the billionaire businessman.
Fetterman said Musk’s endorsement “really mattered” and he believed he “moved the needle.”
In this Sept. 25, 2024, file photo, Senator John Fetterman speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, DC.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP, FILE
Fetterman was the first Senate Democrat to join Pete Hegseth, the controversial former Fox News anchor that Trump tapped as defense secretary. Fetterman has not ruled out supporting him or any of Trump’s other options.
“My commitment, and I think I’m doing the job, is that I will sit down and have a conversation,” Fetterman said. “To me, it would be disheartening if, if confirmed, Democrats would collectively turn their backs on the defense chief. I mean, that’s amazing and that’s dangerous.”
Along with Hegseth, Fetterman met with Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence, and Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director.
Patel’s vow to take on Trump’s political enemies has drawn scrutiny. Asked if Karl Patel thinks he’ll use the FBI to do that, Fetterman said that while he couldn’t go into detail because the meeting is off the record, “That’s never going to happen.”
“So you find yourself inclined to be open to supporting these controversial candidates?” Karl asked.
“Potentially,” Fetterman replied. “But no one can accuse me of saying I was closed-minded, or I said no because Trump picked this person or whatever.”
In this Oct. 2, 2024, file photo, Sen. John Fetterman speaks at a rally in York, Pa.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, FILE
Fetterman said he will vote to confirm Rep. Elise Stefani as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He also said he will back Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state.
“Rubio, to me, is obviously on the other side, but you know, there’s a lot, it’s closer to the Venn (diagram), there’s a lot of overlap,” Fetterman said. “As a Democrat, if I wanted to assemble a bipartisan cabinet, that would be a good choice.”
Asked what message he would give Trump if the president-elect called him, Fetterman said he would like to talk about opportunities “where we could work together.”
“You know, I’d like to avoid cheap heat and stuff, but it’s going to be a bumpy ride, I’m sure,” he said. “And you know, I try to be a committed and steadfast voice for Pennsylvania and remember that we have to find so many victories in the midst of incredibly divisive times.”
