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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., arrives before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP)
Rebutting rumors, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he’s not changing caucuses
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U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said he’s not changing caucuses.
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He called social media rumors that he’s changing parties "amateur hour" claims.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., never said he was voting for President Donald Trump; he campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee.
Nevertheless, the rumors spread online.
Now, another one claims Fetterman is leaving the Democratic Party for Trump’s camp.
"Breaking: Reports swirling that Fetterman to ditch the Democratic Party and embrace MAGA Republicans as early as next week," a Jan. 20 Threads post said.
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)
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The Associated Press recently published a story about how Fetterman has challenged Democratic leadership, and "warmed to Trump so much that some in his party are quietly disavowing the man they supported in 2022," when he flipped a Republican Senate seat.
"Fetterman’s drift has given rise to whispers that he may change his registration," the Jan. 17 story said. "Last month, appearing on ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Fetterman said that he’s not leaving the Democratic Party."
On Jan. 19, Fetterman invoked profanity, calling social media rumors that he’s going to switch caucasus "amateur hour s---."
"If they think, ‘Oh, it’s going to be like a Manchin or Sinema play,’ that’s just not true, and that’s not going to happen," Fetterman told Semafor, referring to former Sen. Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., and former Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., who clashed with the Democratic Party and became political independents.
We rate claims that he’s leaving the Democratic Party, as of Jan. 21, False.
Our Sources
Threads post, Jan. 20, 2025
Semafor, Fetterman shoots down party switch rumors: ‘Not going to happen,’ Jan. 20, 2025
The Associated Press, Fetterman was elected to challenge convention. Now, he’s challenging his fellow Democrats, Jan. 17, 2025
PolitiFact, No, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman didn’t say he’s voting for Trump; he supports Kamala Harris, Sept. 25, 2024
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Rebutting rumors, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he’s not changing caucuses
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