President Donald Trump launched his plan to reshape America on Monday by signing govt actions to reverse Joe Biden-era insurance policies and ship on key marketing campaign guarantees.
He signed the primary batch in entrance of a giant crowd at Capital One Enviornment earlier than going to the Oval Workplace to signal extra.
On his first full day in workplace, Trump ordered the closure of all govt department variety, fairness, and inclusion places of work and positioned their workers on go away.
Sen. John Fetterman arrives earlier than the sixtieth Presidential Inauguration within the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
ABC Information spoke with Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, on Tuesday to debate Jan. 6 pardons, the Laken Riley Act, and his assembly with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. [The senator, to better hear the conversation, used his phone to caption the questions he was asked.]
ABC NEWS: In these divided occasions in Washington, we needed to listen to from a senator who has pledged to work throughout the aisle. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the primary sitting Democrat to move to Mar-a-Lago to satisfy with Trump. What was that assembly like? And what are his ideas on the flurry of early actions?
Busy day, first day for President Trump. I’d like to begin with the pardons for the Jan. 6 rioters. In fact, he is had sweeping pardons for roughly 1,500 of them, together with some who dedicated violent acts in opposition to cops. Your response to these pardons so far as the message that it’d ship?
SEN. FETTERMAN: Yeah, there have been lots of these pardons that day that I do not agree with any greater than a few of the pardons that President Biden dropped that I did not agree with these as effectively, too. I really agreed on lots of the pardons that I’ve signed on as lieutenant governor. I imagine in second probabilities. Some individuals are very deserving of a second probability and get a pardon. And there is some that I do not agree that try this. So I do not agree with, I do not agree with them. Lots of those who I did not agree with the president as effectively, too.
ABC NEWS: Yeah. What’s your response? As a result of I do know at one level you had prompt that you just thought that it might be a good suggestion for President Biden to pardon President-elect Trump with regard to the hush cash case. Now, we all know…
FETTERMAN: What, what I am saying, although, that, that, pardons I can agree with, some that I do not. And I feel that is actually what it comes right down to.
ABC NEWS: You clearly co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act, which was handed late yesterday. Some Democrats have mentioned that they are sad with it, together with Senator Kaine who mentioned that it is unhealthy coverage. What’s your response to that?
FETTERMAN: I imply, they’re entitled to their opinions and their views. And I imagine as somebody that is very, very pro-immigration, as I’ve been persistently, that we could be very pro-immigration and we must always want a safe border. And if these folks that have a legal file or folks which might be actively participating in legal habits, I do not know why it is controversial that these folks ought to, ought to, they should go.
ABC NEWS: As you understand, President Trump declared an emergency on the southern border. Your ideas on that? Good concept? Dangerous concept?
FETTERMAN: Nicely, I feel if 300,000 folks had been displaying up on the border, as they had been throughout a month, not that way back, I feel it is essential that we create a safe border. And that is actually just about the place we’re.
ABC NEWS: As you understand, initially President Trump at one level had known as you a raging lunatic, however you then went down. You are solely the primary sitting Democratic senator to really go right down to Mar-a-Lago. Days later, he mentioned he thought that you just had been spectacular. Can you are taking us to that second and provides us a way of how that assembly went with you and President Trump at Mar-a-Lago?
FETTERMAN: I simply, I used to be invited to have a dialog with the president and that I did. And that is what occurred.
ABC NEWS: Do you share lots of his beliefs?
FETTERMAN: Do I, lots of his beliefs?
ABC NEWS: Sure.
FETTERMAN: I am a Democrat. It is a unusual query.
ABC NEWS: Nicely, I assume I am questioning what made him go…
FETTERMAN: I imply, there’s many issues that I will not agree with and there may be some that I do agree on that. However I’m a Democrat and I’ll stay a Democrat. So there’s lots of his beliefs that I do not agree with. However that is just about the way it works right here. Some Democrats aren’t going to agree with lots of the issues.
ABC NEWS: Proper. However I assume I am simply making an attempt to get a way of, at one level, he is saying you are a raging lunatic. After which he describes you as spectacular. Was there any form of extension of an olive department, a gathering of the minds at Mar-a-Lago that induced him to have no less than such a shift?
FETTERMAN: You already know, I feel if all of us refuse to have interaction and speak to folks that will have mentioned issues up to now that you just may not recognize, then we would not be having conversations with lots of people amongst ourselves.
ABC NEWS: I do know that you’ve got denied rumors that you’d change events. Would you ever think about changing into an Impartial?
FETTERMAN: No, that was by no means, that was by no means a part of any dialog. And if you wish to select to reply to some bizarre issues that you just would possibly learn on-line, that is your, that is as much as you. However that is not any a part of any dialog I’ve ever thought of.
ABC NEWS: The recommendation that you’ve got given to a few of your Democratic colleagues who’re involved a couple of second time period with Trump is you have to relax. And I am questioning if there was any motion or any phrases that he mentioned on his first day that gave you pause?
FETTERMAN: Nicely, lots of issues. A whole lot of issues. However he claimed that that is what’s coming and that is the place we’re on that. And all of us have a alternative to reply to each final thing or no matter. However I’ll form of proceed to seek out lots of constant wins for Pennsylvania.
ABC NEWS: Clearly, as we talked about earlier than, you had been in a position to have the, the bipartisan invoice with Laken Riley. Every other major targets that you just really feel such as you’d wish to work, attain throughout the aisle with Republicans on, on upcoming laws?
FETTERMAN: You already know, as they emerge and proceed to seek out and have these ongoing conversations with members of my colleagues right here within the Senate. And bear in mind, the Republicans are going to drive the agenda and I’ll discover a option to work collectively alongside on all of these sorts of priorities.
ABC NEWS: All proper, Sen. Fetterman, thanks a lot on your time. Actually recognize it.
