Fetterman Warns Dems After Elon Musk Stumps For Trump In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman is urging Democrats not to underestimate Elon Musk’s influence and support for former President Trump in the critical Keystone State. With 19 Electoral College votes on the line in Pennsylvania, a state classified as a toss-up by Fox News’ Power Rankings, Fetterman warned that Musk's growing involvement in politics could sway the race.
In an interview with the New York Post, Fetterman explained his concern: “Not even just that he has endorsed [Trump], but the fact that now he’s becoming an active participant and showing up and doing rallies and things like that.” He emphasized that Musk’s appeal could attract the kind of voters that Vice President Harris will need to win over.
“I mean, [Musk] is incredibly successful, and, you know, I think some people would see him as, like, a Tony Stark,” Fetterman remarked, referencing the famous Marvel Comics character. “Democrats, you know, kind of make light of it, or they make fun of him jumping up and down and things like that. And I would just say that they are doing that at our peril.”
Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, has previously voted for Democrats but now identifies as a centrist, criticizing the Democratic Party for moving too far left and embracing what he calls the “woke mind virus.” He recently attended a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, with Trump, telling the crowd that this is the “most important election of our lifetime.” Musk has also committed to holding town hall events across Pennsylvania and has donated $75 million to a pro-Trump super PAC aimed at boosting voter turnout.
Fetterman, who has at times clashed with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, acknowledged that the 2024 election in Pennsylvania is likely to be very close. “Trump has a connection that’s undeniable. And anyone that spends any time across Pennsylvania can see that kind of devotion, and that’s why it’s going to be very close,” Fetterman explained. “Pennsylvania picks the president.”
Though he has backed President Biden, Fetterman is now fully supporting Harris. “Harris could not have run a better campaign than she has so far right now,” he said, expressing confidence in her chances.
Reflecting on the challenges Biden faced, Fetterman noted that Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race was met with significant pressure. “You had the Democratic side, you have the ongoing, right-wing media, and then the celebrities got involved in it as well, too. And then the New York Times became the ‘he’s got to go’ outlet throughout all that as well,” Fetterman said.
Last month, Fetterman addressed Trump’s enduring influence in Pennsylvania, which, he argued, has only strengthened after a failed assassination attempt against Trump in July. “Trump has created a special kind of a hold… and he’s remade the party and he has a special kind of place in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said at The Atlantic Festival. “And I think that only deepened after that first assassination attempt.”