John Fetterman is set to make history as the first sitting Democratic senator to hold a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Speaking at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Fetterman emphasized that he was approaching the meeting without a specific agenda in mind. Instead, his focus is on fostering open lines of communication with the incoming president.
“I’m not just the senator for Democrats in Pennsylvania; I’m the senator for everyone in Pennsylvania. My state chose Donald Trump as president,” Fetterman stated. “If given the chance to engage in dialogue, I believe we can identify areas of mutual cooperation for the betterment of Pennsylvania and the nation.”
Following Trump’s victory in the presidential election, Fetterman has displayed a willingness to break ranks with his party on various issues. He has expressed his intention to back certain nominees for Trump’s cabinet and support the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-sponsored bill. The legislation mandates that the Department of Homeland Security assume custody of individuals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization who are accused of criminal activities. The bill is named after Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was reportedly slain by a Venezuelan national living in the country unlawfully.
The Laken Riley Act successfully passed through the House of Representatives and saw progress in the Senate on Thursday. Fetterman acknowledged that there may be dissent among Democrats regarding the bill, particularly concerning procedural fairness.
“Some within my party may oppose the legislation, citing concerns about due process. It’s a matter of differing perspectives. They may not see eye to eye with me, and that’s a fundamental aspect of our democratic system,” Fetterman remarked.
