Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) addressed the importance of bipartisanship in the upcoming administration, Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, and his party’s opposition to the president-elect.
During an interview with ABC News This Week which aired on Sunday, Fetterman said that he hopes Trump will be successful and encouraged Democrats to do the same.
“I’m not rooting against him,” Fetterman told ABC news anchor Jonathan Karl. “If you’re rooting against him, you’re rooting against the nation.”
Fetterman weighed in on his party’s ongoing resistance to Trump, suggesting that it’s unhealthy and unproductive.
“I’ve been constantly warning people, you gotta chill out. The constant freakouts, it’s not helpful,” he said. “Pack a lunch, ya know? Pace yourself. He hasn’t even taken office.”
Fetterman also discussed Trump’s appointments for his new Cabinet and said that he might not support every single one of his choices, but nobody can accuse him of having a closed mind. The senator confirmed that he has held productive one-on-one meetings with each of Trump’s picks to learn more about them.
He specifically discussed Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial choice for Attorney General. Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for the role as the nation’s top law enforcement officer amid an uphill confirmation battle over misconduct allegations.
“I described it as ‘God-tier trolling.’ I mean, that’s just, that was never serious. Anyone knows here in Congress that he’s despised, by Republicans too,” Fetterman said.
After the fallout, Trump chose Pam Bondi as his new Attorney General nominee, a choice that members of Congress appeared to accept as more fitting for the role.
When asked if he thinks that Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Defense Secretary, is qualified for the position, Fetterman said “we’re going to learn more,” noting that an FBI background check will take place and the confirmation hearings will be held.
In meeting with Kash Patel, Trump’s choice for FBI director, Fetterman said he learned a lot about him, stressing that Patel said he will not go after Trump’s political opponents, as many Democrats have claimed.
“The president picked these people, not gonna be my first choice, second choice, third choice. But that’s democracy,” Fetterman said.
He also reiterated his support for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Trump’s pick for U.N. ambassador, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for Secretary of State, confirming that he will vote “yes” for both to be confirmed.
When asked about the reason behind the failure of Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential run, Fetterman said that Trump had the energy and a “sense of fearlessness” in his campaign. He had an “entertaining aspect” to him, the senator said.
“You have a singular political talent. It’s undeniable,” Fetterman stated.
The Pennsylvania senator also said that he never considered Trump a fascist, a word Harris often used to describe him on the campaign trail.
When asked about Democrats’ belief that Harris would win the swing state of Pennsylvania in the 2024 presidential campaign, he pointed to Trump’s support in the red parts of the state, such as Indiana County. Fetterman said Trump’s support in those areas was “astonishing,” and it further “crystalized” after the assassination attempt in Butler County in July.
Fetterman has not talked to Trump since the election but would like to have an honest conversation with him about working together, acknowledging that there will still be things they disagree on.
“It’s gonna be a kooky ride, I’m sure,” Fetterman said.” I try to be a committed, steady voice for Pennsylvania, and to remember that we have to find as many wins in the middle of incredibly divisive times.”