Democrat Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has declared that he would vote “from an open mind and an informed opinion” on President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.
Those nominees Fetterman is considering supporting include former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, Breitbart reported.
The Pennsylvania Democrat made his intentions known in a post on X.
Fetterman shared a post from Hegseth, Trump’s pick to head the Defense Department.
In the post, Hegseth expressed high praise for Fetterman’s “fairness, courage & hospitality.”
Hegseth has faced many attacks since Trump tapped him for the job.
His tattoos were flagged as symbols of “white supremacy” when, in fact, they express his Christian faith.
Hegseth was also dragged through the mud about false allegations rape in 2017, which he was never charged for.
The New York Times also smeared Hegseth with “an angry email” his mother wrote to him for “mistreating women.”
As it turned out, that letter was something his mother had apologized for and no longer stood behind.
In the face of all of these attacks, Fetterman has been level-headed in his approach to Hegseth and other Trump nominees.
Fetterman has also been supportive of Elise Stafanik, Trump’s pick for U.S. ambassador, and Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee for national security director.
“Thank you @JohnFetterman for your fairness, courage & hospitality,” Hegseth said in a post on X.
“I appreciate our time together — and your commitment to the troops, American defense & our ally Israel.
“And, from a Vikings fan…go Steelers,” Hegseth added.
The junior senator shared the post and responded in kind.
“I believe that it’s appropriate and the responsibility of a U.S. Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump’s nominees,” Fetterman wrote in his post on X.
“That’s why I met with Elise Stefanik and Pete Hegseth, just wrapped with Tulsi Gabbard, and look forward to my meetings with others soon.
“My votes will come from an open mind and an informed opinion after having a conversation with them.
“That’s not controversial, it’s my job,” Fetterman wrote.
I believe that it’s appropriate and the responsibility of a U.S. Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump’s nominees.
That’s why I met with Elise Stefanik and Pete Hegseth, just wrapped with Tulsi Gabbard, and look forward to my meetings with others soon.
My… pic.twitter.com/Vli5tr8XSr
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) December 17, 2024
This pragmatic approach is a continuation of Fetterman’s move to the right as he increasingly becomes disillusioned with the Democratic Party.
On Fox News last month, Fetterman noted that “one area where we kind of lost ourselves was the border,” among others.
While addressing the Democrats’ losing approach to illegal immigration, Fetterman said:
“And I’ve been on this network, you know, months, months ago saying, ‘Hey, you know, it can’t be controversial for our party to have pro-immigration, but we need a secure border.’
“And when we ask or demand people to not believe what they see, and see those kind of numbers, that that’s not a problem.
“It’s like, well, then you lose about that 100%,” Fetterman added.
He also acknowledged that he sided with Israel in its war with Hamas and believed that Trump’s stance aligned with his.
“In terms of the incoming administration, I actually like what I see in terms of being very, very strong pro-Israel,” Fetterman shockingly admitted.
It seems Trump may have an ally in a very unlikely place.
The Democrats hate giving even an inch to Trump and his agenda.
Meanwhile, Fetterman is happy to consider the president-elect’s nominees and give credit where it’s due, even if it means going against his party’s current crusade to stop Trump.
