By John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is heading to Florida to meet President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Confirming the visit to CBS News, Fetterman described the meeting as a practical step to engage with the incoming president. “That is the plan,” he stated. “We are going to have a conversation. He’s the president, or he will be officially, and it’s reasonable to meet when the president requests it. No one is my gatekeeper.”
While the meeting has not been finalized, according to a transition official, it signals a notable instance of bipartisan dialogue during a time of heightened political division. The visit follows Trump’s recent meeting with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser to discuss his upcoming inauguration and plans for his second term. Trump’s outreach to Fetterman appears aimed at building legislative alliances as he prepares to govern.
Fetterman has carved out a reputation as a moderate voice within the Democratic Party, often seeking middle ground on contentious issues. He was the first Senate Democrat to sponsor the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of noncitizens charged or convicted of theft-related crimes. The bill recently passed overwhelmingly in the Senate and will likely be the first law signed by Donald Trump during his second term.
“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 earlier in the week.
The upcoming discussion with Trump is expected to touch on several polarizing issues, including Trump’s cabinet picks, such as defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Fetterman has also expressed a willingness to consider some of Trump’s unconventional proposals, including a recent idea involving U.S. control of Greenland. On the agenda, too, may be Trump’s plans to address the cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, a key issue for lawmakers in high-tax states. Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes, which Trump regained in the 2024 election, add weight to the significance of Fetterman’s support.
The Pennsylvania Senator, who often reveals his wry sense of humor, claimed that the purpose of his trip to Florida was to ask the president-elect to make him the “Pope of Greenland.”
REPORTER: What are you hoping to get out of your visit to Mar-a-Lago with Donald Trump?
SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN: “I demand that I need to be made Pope of Greenland.”
H/t @KellieMeyerNews pic.twitter.com/F5L7BWXxtj
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 10, 2025
Fetterman’s openness to dialogue has drawn both praise and scrutiny, given Trump’s sharp criticisms during their 2022 Senate race. Nevertheless, Fetterman reiterated his commitment to representing all Pennsylvanians, not just his party. “I’ve been clear that I’ll have conversations with anyone who can impact Pennsylvania and the nation,” he said. “I represent everyone in Pennsylvania.”
The Mar-a-Lago meeting is poised to serve as an early test of bipartisan cooperation in Trump’s second term. Who will blink first?
