Democrat Supports Trump’s Pick

In a recent interview on ABC’s This Week, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) opened the door to the possibility of supporting President-elect Trump’s nominees for critical national security roles—Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary and Kash Patel to lead the FBI—despite their controversial reputations.

Fetterman, when asked about Hegseth’s qualifications for Secretary of Defense, refrained from offering a definitive judgment but indicated that he would reserve full judgment until after the necessary confirmation hearings. “We’re going to learn more,” he said, emphasizing that these hearings and background checks would be crucial in determining whether or not Hegseth is fit for the role. While acknowledging that Hegseth might not be his top pick, Fetterman was clear that he respected the democratic process and would approach the confirmation with an open mind. “That’s democracy,” Fetterman noted, adding that it would be concerning for the country if Democrats collectively rejected a nominee simply due to political differences.

Similarly, Fetterman shared that he had met with Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI Director. Patel, a former senior official in the Trump administration, has long been outspoken about the so-called “deep state” within the FBI and has called for the exposure and accountability of those he claims have undermined the president. Fetterman’s comments about Patel were more reserved, but he suggested he had found the meeting valuable, stating, “I have learned things, and I have heard things, and I have no regrets for having these conversations.”

Despite the controversy surrounding both nominees—Hegseth’s past allegations of misconduct and Patel’s contentious rhetoric—Fetterman’s openness to engaging with them signals a willingness to approach their potential confirmations thoughtfully, rather than with blind opposition. While it remains to be seen whether he will fully support these picks, his remarks indicate that he may be more open-minded than many Democrats when it comes to confirming key figures in the new administration.

For a Republican audience, Fetterman’s comments are noteworthy because they reveal that even Democratic leaders may be willing to consider Trump’s picks for important positions, signaling that the next administration could be far less partisan than expected.