What happened in American politics after Donald Trump’s election victory was quite remarkable from my place among my fellow inexpensive citizens.
I honestly can’t remember a time in current history when an elected president became the de facto president almost immediately. On the other hand, the incumbent president — who was pushed out of the presidential race by his own party — largely faded into the background, perhaps to sulk and/or reluctantly admit to himself that he’s grateful that his rollercoaster ride in the Oval Office is about to end will take place will be over.
It was astonishing to see some of Trump’s loudest critics deviate from the “greatest threat to democracy.” to the “second look at Trump” that we saw, for example, from MSNBC co-hosts/veteran Cocktail Circuit performers Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski after Trump won the election.
READ MORE: Meltdown City on the left after Joe and Mika try to play nice with Donald Trump again
In this context, there was also Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), who, although he had campaigned for the Harris-Walz ticket, also expressed interest in working with Trump if he emerged victorious in November.
It turns out that Fetterman — who has seen something of a political evolution in recent years — stayed true to his word by co-sponsoring the Senate’s Laken Riley Act despite the objections of Senate Democrats and keeping an open mind and meeting with others Some of Trump’s nominees ahead of their confirmation hearings:
I enjoyed meeting @SeanDuffyWI and assume he will vote YES on his nomination.
We agreed on many things, but most of all we appreciated him tacitly admitting that the Steelers are better than the Packers. https://t.co/jITqRxvEbX
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) January 8, 2025
There was also the following:
2 boys ➕ 2 better halves ➕ Bipartisanship ➕ 67 counties 🟰 a stronger Pennsylvania. https://t.co/HXC8eoajm8
– US Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 9, 2025
But it’s Fetterman’s latest move that could send his fellow Democrats running over the edge:
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has accepted an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump to meet with him at his Mar-a-Lago estate, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans.
[…]
“I think he is the president, or he officially will be,” Fetterman said. “And I think it’s pretty reasonable if the president wants to have a conversation — or invite someone to have a conversation — to have it. And no one is my gatekeeper.”
Say what you will about Fetterman, but he’s his own man and doesn’t play by the conventional rules of politics that put you in this or that box based on the letter next to your name.
Long before the 2024 election, Fetterman read the room, identified the changing political/cultural landscape not only nationally but also in his backyard, and responded accordingly in some cases with moderation and in others with complete (and justifiable) disregard for his party, such as the war between Israel and Hamas.
Even if he doesn’t switch parties at some point, he has proven to be a formidable political problem for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and a surprising ally for Senate Republicans at a critical time in our country’s history. That will be welcome news in the coming months as Trump’s agenda passes through both chambers.
As always, stay tuned!
FLASHBACK: John Fetterman stirs the pot with his opinion on the Hunter Biden pardon – and the New York trial of Trump
