Meeting with Trump's appointees: John Fetterman promises to maintain an open mind

By 
 December 30, 2024

Meeting with the nominees nominated by President-elect Donald Trump is his responsibility, according to U.S. Senator John Fetterman.

Meeting with four of Trump's nominees and planning to meet with more, the Pennsylvania Democrat appears to be treating the position seriously thus far, as the York Dispatch reported.

Being one of the few Democrats to meet with Trump’s appointees is just one more way Fetterman has shown his willingness to cross party boundaries and become a part of Trump’s inner circle.

Support So Far

He has spoken out in favor of two candidates for high-ranking government positions: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), the nominee for Secretary of State, and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who is Trump's choice for ambassador to the United Nations.

Earlier this month, Fetterman became a member of Trump's social media network Truth Social in an attempt to connect with people from all walks of life.

Fetterman and his fellow senators have been meeting with Trump's nominees for important jobs in preparation for the upcoming confirmation hearings in the United States Senate.

Rare Rejections

The Senate almost never rejects a nominee, but some of Trump's choices will probably have it tougher than others during the hearing process.

“My votes will come from an open-mind and an informed opinion after having a conversation with them,” Fetterman said, in part, on Truth Social and X about his meetings with Trump’s nominees. “That’s not controversial, it’s my job.”

When asked about Fetterman's intentions to meet with other nominees or his voting intentions throughout the confirmation process, a Fetterman spokesperson did not immediately come up with a comment.

Meetings So Far

Former Fox News anchor and Trump nominee for secretary of defense Pete Hegseth met with Fetterman, the only Democrat in the Senate to do so.

Among Trump's most divisive appointees, Hegseth stands out. Assault and alcohol misuse are among the charges against Hegseth.

Fetterman has met with Trump's nominee to head the FBI, Kash Patel, who has promised to target individuals Trump views as political opponents.

More Nominees

Last week, Fetterman had a meeting with Tulsi Gabbard, who is being considered by Trump for the position of director of national intelligence. Following the meeting, Gabbard told reporters, "It's been great, we're having great conversations."

Stefanik also spoke to the meeting with the PA lawmaker, saying her meeting with Fetterman this month was “a very productive meeting where we discussed our shared commitment to standing with Israel and combating antisemitism.”

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