US President Donald Trump has openly encouraged Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania to switch parties and become a Republican, just weeks before midterm elections that could reshape control of Congress.
"I'd love to see him as a Republican," Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday as he returned to Washington from a rally in Tennessee. "He does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat."
The most direct overture yet
The comments rank among the most direct attempts by Trump to woo Fetterman into the GOP. The stakes are significant: the party could lose its Senate majority in next month's elections, making every potential defection count.
Fetterman, with his everyman appeal, was a Democratic star when first elected to the Senate in 2022. But during his time in Washington he has repeatedly split with Democrats on issues ranging from immigration to Israel, fuelling speculation that he might cross the aisle. A representative for Fetterman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why it matters
Party switches in the Senate are rare and politically explosive — each one can tip the balance of power in committees, judicial confirmations and the legislative agenda. Whether Fetterman takes the bait or brushes it off, Trump's public courtship guarantees the speculation will now run at full volume through the midterms.
Sources:
The Times of India — Breaking News Live Updates, October 11, 2026
"I'd love to see him as a Republican," Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday as he returned to Washington from a rally in Tennessee. "He does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat."
The most direct overture yet
The comments rank among the most direct attempts by Trump to woo Fetterman into the GOP. The stakes are significant: the party could lose its Senate majority in next month's elections, making every potential defection count.
Fetterman, with his everyman appeal, was a Democratic star when first elected to the Senate in 2022. But during his time in Washington he has repeatedly split with Democrats on issues ranging from immigration to Israel, fuelling speculation that he might cross the aisle. A representative for Fetterman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why it matters
Party switches in the Senate are rare and politically explosive — each one can tip the balance of power in committees, judicial confirmations and the legislative agenda. Whether Fetterman takes the bait or brushes it off, Trump's public courtship guarantees the speculation will now run at full volume through the midterms.
Sources:
The Times of India — Breaking News Live Updates, October 11, 2026
