Thune opens GOP's door to Fetterman after Democrat floats party exit: 'We would welcome him'

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen John Thune said Republicans would welcome Sen John Fetterman into the GOP after the Pennsylvania Democrat suggested he would leave his party if it officially became "the anti-Israel party."

The Senate majority leader said Fetterman has struggled within his own caucus. His remarks come after the Democrat drew a firm line over his party's stance on Israel and signaled he could walk away if that position changed.

Thune says Republicans would welcome Fetterman

Speaking about the possibility of Fetterman switching parties, Thune said Republicans would gladly open the door, Fox News reported on Wednesday, July 22.

"Yes, we would welcome him," Thune said. "And I haven't talked to him recently. I have had conversations with him in the past, as have many of my colleagues, about the challenges he faces in his caucus. And, you know, there are many of us who I think would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference."

Fetterman, who won his Senate seat in 2022 after running on a progressive platform, has increasingly broken with fellow Democrats over Israel.

He has consistently backed Israel and supported military action involving Iran while many Democrats have taken a more critical stance toward the Jewish state.

Earlier this month, Fetterman told the Hill exactly what would push him out of the Democratic Party.

"If our party ever becomes — and just makes it official — the anti-Israel party, that's when I would leave because that's been a moral clarity for me," he said.

Fetterman cites Israel as moral line

Fetterman has repeatedly argued that his position on Israel outweighs political pressure from his own base.

"Something like this is much more important than just voting what your base might demand," he said earlier this year. "Because I think things are much bigger and more important than that. And Iran with a nuclear bomb is one of those things."

His comments followed growing divisions inside the Democratic Party over US support for Israel.

According to Fox News, 103 House Democrats voted to end $3.3 billion in taxpayer-funded aid to Israel. In the Senate, 40 Democrats voted for resolutions aimed at halting arms sales and military bulldozers to Israel after photos of starving children in Gaza circulated publicly.

The two measures, introduced by Sen Bernie Sanders, would have blocked nearly $500 million in military equipment sales, including about $295 million in Caterpillar bulldozers and nearly $152 million in 1,000-pound bombs, the outlet reported.

John Thune says Fetterman may lack political home

While Thune said the decision ultimately belongs to Fetterman, he argued the Democratic Party has moved away from politicians with more traditional views.

"I mean, this is a party that's moving further and further, more radically, and to the more extreme left on a lot of issues," Thune said. "And I think people like John Fetterman, who have views that probably reflect a more moderate or at least historically moderate Democrat position, are really kind of people without a home."

"So if he ever comes to the conclusion that he's ready to move, we would certainly welcome it," Thune added.