Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who has become somewhat of a maverick since his 2022 election victory, defended a Mar-a-Lago meeting with President Donald Trump during an appearance on ABC’s “The View.”
The show’s uber-liberal co-hosts were obviously skeptical of his visit, judging by their demeanor and questions, even going so far as to inquire as to whether he still had an affinity for the Democratic Party over that of the GOP.
During the segment, the co-hosts asked Fetterman why he would go to see Trump in the first place. But he essentially shrugged off the question, noting that during their interaction, Trump was “kind” and “cordial” and called the meeting a “positive experience,” according to Fox News.
“I think overall it was a positive experience. I mean, he was — he was kind. He was cordial. It wasn’t in a — in any kind of theater, it wasn’t trying to get any kind of picture taken to put something out on social media. It was really just a conversation,” Fetterman recalled.
Fetterman stated that he and his wife, Gisele, spoke with Trump for over an hour, trying to find common ground on issues such as protecting “dreamers” and food stamp benefits, among other topics. “Overall it was just a straight-up conversation,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman was notably the first Senate Democrat to meet with Trump following his 2024 presidential victory. Trump, meanwhile, also came away from the meeting feeling good about it.
“It was a totally fascinating meeting,” Trump told the Washington Examiner in an exclusive interview following the meeting. “He’s a fascinating man and his wife is lovely. … I couldn’t be more impressed.”
The outlet also said that the conversation involved saving the U.S. steel industry, which is crucial to Pennsylvania’s economy, while Trump also pledged to support Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza upon taking office, a position Fetterman has also taken.
According to The Examiner, Trump and Fetterman also discussed the then-president-elect’s proposal for the United States to pursue a strategic acquisition of Greenland.
“He’s a common sense person. He’s not liberal or conservative,” Trump said of the Pennsylvania Democrat.
Fetterman discussed his decision to accept Trump’s Mar-a-Lago invitation ahead of the meeting. “We are going to have a conversation,” the senator said of their planned meeting.
“I think that one, he’s the president, or he will be officially,” the maverick senator told CBS News. “And I think it’s pretty reasonable that if the president would like to have a conversation — or invite someone to have a conversation — to have it. And no one is my gatekeeper.”
“I’ve been very clear that I have ongoing conversations with people that are going to have an impact on Pennsylvania and for the nation,” he said. “And I am a senator for Pennsylvania, not just for Democrats. I am a senator for everyone in Pennsylvania.”
WATCH:
As most Democrats scoffed at Trump’s plans to gain control of Greenland, Fetterman did not dismiss the idea.
“I have no idea what’s going to exactly come up. So, I mean, regardless of whatever comes up, that’s going to be part of the conversation,” he said to CBS News.
He later joked with reporters who asked him why he was going to meet with the president-elect, saying, “I’m angling to be named the pope of Greenland.”
In December, Fetterman placed blame for the Democrat defeat on former House Speaker and Democrat California Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
During an interview with Politico, Fetterman went after Pelosi when asked if he thought President Joe Biden should have dropped out of the race after the terrible debate with Donald Trump.
“People like [Nancy] Pelosi, she really tried to — what’s the word I’m looking for? — she embraced this ‘she’s the godmother, she’s the enforcer.’ And now she’s blaming Biden,” Fetterman said, holding nothing back while blaming Pelosi for trying to pull power moves.
“Well, you can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted,” he added, referring to Biden’s ouster and the installment of Kamala Harris, “and now you’re still blaming Biden.
