John Fetterman First Democratic Lawmaker To Accept Trump Invitation To Mar-a-Lago Since 2024 Election

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman will become the first Democrat to join the slew of politicians and billionaire businesspeople who are making the trek to meet with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida.

Fetterman said in a statement Thursday that Trump invited him to meet and that he accepted.

"I'm the senator for all Pennsylvanians — not just Democrats in Pennsylvania," he said in a statement, first reported by CBS News. "I've been clear that no one is my gatekeeper. I will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation."

The meeting is expected to take place this weekend.

The trip marks Fetterman's transition from a leading supporter of President Joe Biden into a "Trump-friendly lawmaker," as described by the Associated Press, following Trump’s victory in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

From Bitter Enemies To Almost Friends

Fetterman was elected to the Senate in 2022 in a knockdown battle against multimillionaire TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz, widely viewed as hand-picked by Trump. Things got nasty when Oz publicly mocked Fetterman on several occasions for refusing to debate him after the former Lt. governor of Pennsylvania suffered a stroke that affected his speech.

Then, the conflict intensified between Trump and Fetterman. At the time, Trump accused Fetterman of supporting "taxpayer-funded drug dens and the complete decriminalization of illegal drugs, including heroin, cocaine, crystal meth, and ultra-lethal fentanyl, and by the way, he takes them himself." For the record, Fetterman does support the legalization of cannabis.

Immigration And The Southern Border: Almost A Bipartisan Issue

Fetterman was the first Democrat to sponsor the Laken Riley Act, which came up often during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. The legislation, named after a nursing student who was killed by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, would compel the federal government to detain noncitizens convicted or charged with burglary, larceny, theft or shoplifting.

As of Thursday, with a vote of 84-9 with 32 Democrats and one independent joining all 51 Republicans, reported NBC News, the bill cleared the threshold to move on to the GOP-controlled Senate.

“We absolutely need to have a secure border, and I have always also been incredibly supportive and protective for Dreamers,” Fetterman told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday, referring to young people who were born in the U.S. to undocumented parents and therefore may face deportation.

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Photo of Fetterman by OogImages on Shutterstock