President Donald Trump praised Sen. John Fetterman on Saturday and said he would welcome the Pennsylvania Democrat into the Republican Party.

A reporter asked Trump at Joint Base Andrews whether he had talked with Fetterman about switching parties. "I'd love to see it. I think he's great," Trump said, according to Fox News. "It's going to be hard for him to get the nomination as a Democrat, but I'd love to have him as a Republican."

Trump called Fetterman a "great guy" with "magnificent parents." "He's a very solid person," Trump said. "He's smart and all that, but he's got great common sense." He also suggested a switch could help Fetterman. "If you look at the polls, he does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat," Trump said.

Fetterman has broken with his party on several big issues, including the Iran war and immigration. He has said that if Democrats keep turning their backs on Israel, he would leave the party.

Still, his voting record is mostly Democratic. Since joining the Senate in 2023, he has voted with Senate Democrats nearly 90% of the time, Fox News reported. That is close to some of the most loyal party members.

Fetterman's current term runs through 2028. A switch would not change control of the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority. But it would be a major symbolic win for Trump ahead of the midterms.

Fetterman has not announced any plans to change parties. Speculation has grown as he has clashed with progressive Democrats in Pennsylvania and in Washington.

What we know: Trump said he would love to see Fetterman become a Republican.
What we don't: whether Fetterman will consider switching parties.