CNN Host Asks John Fetterman If He Would Become Republican, Accept Trump’s Endorsement

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told CNN host Kasie Hunt on Wednesday that his record was “solid Democrat” when asked if he would consider a party switch.

Fetterman excoriated members of his party for their antics during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address during a Fox News appearance earlier Wednesday. Hunt asked him if he would switch, citing potential left-wing challengers in the primary election for 2028.

“What I’m saying, it’s like anyone’s entitled, but it’s very strange if anyone is a Democrat, I’m not sure, it’s like the guy that flipped a red seat and someone now it’s like now my record is solid, solid Democrat,” Fetterman responded.

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Fetterman, who defeated Republican nominee and physician Mehmet Oz in the 2022 election for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, has come under fire from the left for failing to oppose Trump.

Fetterman has previously criticized the Democratic Party for opposing voter ID, opposed filibusters that blocked spending bills which would have averted government shutdowns, supported the Trump administration’s strikes on suspected drug smuggling vessels and has also staunchly supported Israel’s military actions against the radical Islamic terrorist group Hamas.

Although Fetterman has criticized members of his party who label Republicans and conservatives as “fascists” or “Nazis,” he appeared to rule out switching parties during a September 2025 appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures.”

“I’m not going to switch, but I’m just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. I’m not going to be afraid if people, if there are groups attacking a Democrat, you know the last one in Pennsylvania, to me that’s part of the problem in our party. If you want a Democrat that’s going to call people Nazis or fascists or all these kinds of thing, well, I’m not going to be that guy,” Fetterman told host Maria Bartiromo.