It may seem that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and Elon Musk may not have a lot in common ā and they donāt.
Musk is a billionaire and Republican; Fetterman is a Democrat who has been a champion for the underdog.
But that didnāt stop the Pennsylvania lawmaker from expressing his admiration for the staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump Thursday.
āI admire Mr. Musk. Heās been involved in very important parts of American society: AI, SpaceX and other kinds of things,ā Fetterman said on Capitol Hill, The Hill reported.
āYes, he is on a different team, but that doesnāt make me an enemy,ā Fetterman said. āI donāt ⦠automatically going to become a critic.ā
The Pennsylvania Democrat said he can see and acknowledge what Musk has done even though the two donāt agree politically.
āItās like, āHey, he has made our economy and our nation better.ā And our Politics are different, and I donāt agree with some of the things that he might say, but that doesnāt make him, like I said, an enemy,ā Fetterman said.
Musk responded with a post on X, formerly Twitter.
āHard not to like @SenFettermanPA. He puts country over party,ā Musk wrote.
Trump recently named Musk, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to head the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Fetterman said earlier this year that Muskās endorsement of Trump meant something.
āMost endorsements donāt count for much in this business, but Musk is ⦠incredibly popular, and he has an appeal to a demographic that Democrats have struggled with,ā Fetterman said on NewsNation.
āTo some people that they see him as, thatās Tony Stark,ā he said. āHeās the worldās richest man, and heās undeniably a brilliant guy.ā
