Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, said he’s hopeful President-elect Donald Trump can be successful in his second term.
"If you're rooting against the president, you are rooting against the nation," Fetterman told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl. "So, country first. I know that's become maybe like a cliche, but it happens to be true."
FETTERMAN: “I’m not rooting against [Trump] because if you're rooting against the President, you are rooting against the nation.”pic.twitter.com/pnmGvWOR0y
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) December 22, 2024
Asked what he believes is the biggest factor that led to Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in November, the Pennsylvania Democrat pointed to Trump’s “undeniable” political talent.
"He had the energy and almost a sense of fearlessness to just say all those kinds of things," Fetterman said. "You literally were shot in your head and had the presence of mind to respond, you know, 'Fight, fight, fight!' I mean, that's a political talent, that’s undeniable.”
Fetterman also rejected the notion that Trump is a fascist, a term Harris used on the campaign trail.
"It’s not a word I would use," he said.
“You put a lot of Democrats, especially in my state that I know and I happen to love, people that are gonna vote for Trump and they are not fascists,” he continued, noting that “fascist” is not a word regular folks use.
"I think people are going to decide who is the candidate that's going to protect and project my version of the American way of life," he added. "And that's what happened."
NEW: Senator John Fetterman says Trump won because he protects the American way of life, says Trump is not a fascist like Kamala Harris claimed.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 22, 2024
Fetterman says he knows a lot of Democrats in Pennsylvania who voted for Trump.
"A lot of Democrats, especially in my state that I… pic.twitter.com/krDD1ors5V
His remarks were praised on the right and criticized on the left.
Jon Karl - who has written three anti-Trump books - is shown what class means by John Fetterman — one of the few reasonable lawmakers in Washington. https://t.co/FP1D0XQjjK
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) December 22, 2024
Respectfully @JohnFetterman, this is such dangerous normalizing of Trump. Trump lies every time he opens his mouth, he tried to overthrow an American election, he believes he’s above the law, he wants to jail his political opponents, and you call that “undeniable political… https://t.co/KEFic4s7QJ
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 22, 2024
"Go read a f****** history book," another X user wrote. "This level of ignorance is embarrassing coming from a US Senator."
"Fetterman is on his way to becoming our Susan Collins," another said.