Trump Pressures GOP to Woo Senator Fetterman Amid Senate Majority Concerns

President Donald Trump has issued a direct directive to Senate Republicans: attempt to persuade embattled Democratic Senator John Fetterman to switch parties and join the GOP. The move aims to secure the Republican Party’s slim majority in the Senate.

According to a Politico report, Fetterman’s potential party switch could be driven by several factors, including Trump’s lobbying efforts, a promised “financial windfall”, and the influence of Republican Senators Dave McCormick and Katie Britt, with whom Fetterman reportedly has close ties. An anonymous source suggested that Fetterman was open to the idea of switching sides.

During a March interview on Fox News, host Sean Hannity revealed a conversation he had with Trump about Fetterman:

“I did talk to President Trump last night, and I told him you were gonna be on the show. And he said ‘OK. I wanna give you a job. Your job is to tell him: He’s gonna be run as a Republican, he’s gonna have our full support, more money than he ever dreamed of, and he’s gonna win big.’”

Fetterman, however, has remained steadfast in his Democratic affiliation—at least publicly. In an interview with Politico published on Monday, he stated:

“I’m not changing. I’m a Democrat, and I’m staying one.... I’d be a shitty Republican.”

Despite Fetterman’s denial, his voting record and public statements have drawn criticism from Democrats, fueling Republican efforts to recruit him. Since launching his political career eight years ago as a Bernie Sanders–backed progressive, Fetterman has increasingly aligned with President Trump’s agenda while distancing himself from the progressive wing of his party.

Key examples of Fetterman’s controversial stances include:

• Being the first Senate Democrat to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
• Defending federal immigration agents and calling calls to abolish ICE “inappropriate and outrageous.”
• Voting against curtailing Trump’s war powers in Iran.
• Being a staunch supporter of Israel, including a reported statement last year where he allegedly said, “Let’s get back to killing,” referring to Israel’s military actions in Palestine. Fetterman later denied the account.

Earlier this month, Punchbowl News reported that none of Fetterman’s Pennsylvania House counterparts expressed confidence in his 2028 reelection bid, further straining his relationship with his party.

Public opinion in Pennsylvania also reflects Fetterman’s declining popularity. A CNN poll from last month showed his net approval rating among state Democrats has dropped 108 points since he took office—from +68 in 2023 to -40 in 2026. CNN’s Harry Enten remarked, “He’s down there with the Titanic. There’s no historical analog to his unpopularity.”

Given these dynamics, Trump’s overtures to Fetterman appear strategic. The former president has previously referred to Fetterman as his “favorite Democrat.”