Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) quickly dismissed rumors that he might switch parties after showing a willingness to engage with President Trump and Capitol Hill Republicans.
He told Semafor such speculation is “amateur-hour s‑‑‑.”
“If they think, ‘Oh, it’s going to be like a Manchin or a Sinema play,’ that’s just not true, and that’s not going to happen,” Fetterman said, referencing Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, former Democrats who later became Independents.
“It’s not going to happen. And even if I wanted to do that, this is a rocket sled to Palookaville to try and switch — I would make a pretty bad Republican,” he added.
The senator has reportedly reassured Senate Democrats behind closed doors that his loyalty to the party remains firm.
Recently, The Hill noted that Fetterman’s willingness to collaborate with Trump has raised eyebrows among Democrats, some of whom question his long-term intentions. Progressive critics accuse him of straying from the promises he made upon entering the Senate.
However, a Republican source familiar with Fetterman’s career said they doubt he’ll change sides. They see his ability to keep both parties guessing as part of the political persona he’s built in Pennsylvania’s battleground landscape.