By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-21 01:21:46 | Updated at 2025-01-21 04:01:57
2 hours ago
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman shot down rumors that he planned to switch his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican shortly after Donald Trump's inauguration.
Fetterman told Semafor the suggestion, which circulated around social media Monday, was 'amateur hour s***.'
'If they think, "oh, it’s going to be like a Manchin or a Sinema play," that’s just not true, and that’s not going to happen,' Fetterman said.
Fetterman was citing West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, respectively, who left the Democratic Party and became important swing votes.
'It's not going to happen,' he continued.
'And even if I wanted to do that, that is a rocket sled to Palookaville to try to switch. I would make a pretty bad Republican.'
His remarks came after he invited backlash by wearing his signature hoodie and shorts outfit to Trump's swearing-in ceremony, with some branding him a 'disgrace' for his dressed down look.
The rumors of Fetterman switching to the Republican caucus were fueled by a string of recent stances the senator has taken to place himself as a political moderate.
This included his outspoken support for the Laken Riley Act, a hardline immigration order backed by Republicans, his support for the Israeli government, and a recent trip to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman shot down rumors that he planned to switch his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, branding it 'amateur hour s***'
Rumors of Fetterman's switch circulated across social media in the hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President
Fetterman's remarks came after he invited backlash by wearing his signature hoodie and shorts outfit to Trump's swearing-in ceremony
Although Fetterman shot down the rumors over his future quickly, he has notably called for his party to change its approach to dealing with Trump following his landslide election victory.
He called for Democrats to be open-minded to Trump's cabinet nominees, and has repeatedly singled out culture wars debates as reasons why his party lost the election so decisively.
Shortly before his remarks to Semafor, Trump took the stage at the Capital One Arena to mark his Presidential Parade.
On stage, declared 'now, the work begins' and immediately delivered on his promise by signing an executive order to undo former President Biden's presidential actions.
'You are now witnessing the dawn of the golden age of America,' he declared to great applause. 'We're not going to put up with that crap anymore.'
Trump turned his rally at a downtown Washington arena into a signing ceremony as he grabbed his pen and issued multiple executive actions to institute major policy changes.
The president said he would sign pardons back at the White House and indicated those convicted in the riot on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. would be released Monday.
Donald Trump made good on his word that 'now the work begins' as he immediately started signing executive orders when took the stage at his inaugural parade in Washington
Trump turned his rally at a downtown Washington arena into a signing ceremony for executive actions that his new administration is taking to institute major policy changes
Trump officially halted 78 Biden-era executive orders, announced a regulatory freeze preventing bureaucrats from issuing regulations until the Trump administration has full control of the government and a freeze on all federal hiring except for military and a few other essential areas.
He also ordered a requirement that federal workers return to full-time in-person work, a directive to every department and agency to address the cost of living crisis, and announced withdrawal from the Paris climate treaty.
Trump also signed a government order restoring freedom of speech and preventing censorship of free speech and one ending the 'weaponization of government against the political adversaries of the previous administration'
Some of the orders he signed first including a Biden border bill, a regulatory freeze and a freeze on federal hiring.
The setup included a small desk, chair and microphone, where Trump was sitting to attach his signature to official actions.
JD Vance received a warm welcome as he arrived with his wife Usha and young children
Ivanka Trump gestures when she arrives at Capital One Arena after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in
He showed off his signature as he signs an initial round of executive orders before tossing the pens into the crowd.
Trump declared at his indoor parade that he will sign pardons for ‘a lot of people’ who were convicted for the attack on the U.S. Capitol as the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
‘We won, we won, but now the work begins,’ Trump said to start his remarks at the end of the parade in the packed Capitol One Arena in Washington, DC.
The president during his wide-ranging remarks also attacked special counsel Jack Smith and complained about being investigated.
The president mentioned that Biden pardoned his family members on Monday, one of his final acts as president. The crowd booed as the president said it happened while Trump was making his speech at the U.S. Capitol.
