Political commentator Bill O'Reilly has doubled down on his prediction that Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania will eventually leave the Democratic Party, pointing to the senator's recent appearance in a video played at the Republican National Committee's midterm convention in Dallas.
During an interview on NewsNation late Wednesday, O'Reilly told host Chris Cuomo that he had previously asked Fetterman directly about switching parties, and the senator did not deny it. "Then I asked him on air too," O'Reilly said. "I said, 'OK, when are you switching parties?' He will. He's going to be a Republican."
The former Fox News host noted that Senator Dave McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, requested Fetterman's video message for the RNC gathering. O'Reilly also highlighted President Trump's tariffs on steel, saying they "injected a lot of money and hope into" Pennsylvania's steel industry, and that McCormick felt Fetterman should publicly acknowledge that progress.
In the video, Fetterman branded himself a "commonsense Democrat" and praised McCormick as "the kind of senator that gets the job done," citing their joint efforts with Trump to revive manufacturing in the state. He also said he would always "reject the extremes in socialism and that anti-American way of life."
O'Reilly speculated that if Democrats take the House by a narrow margin and Fetterman flips, it could tip the balance in the Senate, with Vice President JD Vance serving as the tiebreaker. Cuomo responded that he was "taking all action on that wager," signaling skepticism about the prediction.
Fetterman has become one of the most outspoken centrist critics within the Democratic Party, frequently appearing on conservative media to criticize progressive positions, particularly on Israel. He was the only Democrat to vote against every Senate war powers resolution aimed at limiting Trump's actions regarding Iran, and he voted with Trump 28 percent of the time last year—more than any other Senate Democrat, according to VoteHub.
The senator has said he would only leave the party if it became "the anti-Israel party," a stance he has embraced since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. However, he has also insisted he would be a "terrible Republican" because he "votes overwhelmingly with Democrats."
His unyielding support for Israel has drawn criticism from constituents. A Quinnipiac University poll released in July found that 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters want Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party. The senator's video endorsement of McCormick has further fueled speculation about his political future, though he has not indicated any immediate plans to switch.
Fetterman's actions have also sparked internal Democratic tensions, with some progressives floating a primary challenge in 2028, as reported by a potential 2028 primary run. Meanwhile, O'Reilly's comments reflect broader Republican hopes of peeling off moderate Democrats, a strategy that has been criticized as outdated.
The RNC convention itself saw several key Republican lawmakers skip the event, as detailed in coverage of the Dallas gathering, but Fetterman's appearance provided an unexpected spotlight. Whether his party loyalty will hold remains an open question, but his recent moves have certainly given political observers plenty to analyze.
