Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said Thursday he would welcome Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) into the Republican Party, a striking overture to the man who defeated him in Pennsylvania's 2022 Senate race.
Speaking on the podcast "Harry Cole Saves the West," Oz responded to a question about whether he'd like Fetterman to cross the aisle. "Of course," he said. "We [want] as many people as are willing to be brave and push back on an orthodoxy or a rhetoric that doesn't actually describe reality."
Oz's comments came a day after Fetterman's surprise video appearance at the Republican National Committee's midterm convention in Dallas, where he praised fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick (R). In the video, Fetterman described himself as a "commonsense Democrat" and said McCormick is "the kind of senator that gets the job done," adding that the two would work with President Trump to boost Pennsylvania's manufacturing sector.
The video has fueled speculation about Fetterman's political future. Political commentator Bill O'Reilly said Wednesday he believes Fetterman "is going to be a Republican," pointing to the senator's relationships with Trump and McCormick.
Fetterman's appearance also drew sharp criticism from within his own party. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) told CNN's Jake Tapper that Fetterman has been "nowhere to be found" in Pennsylvania and is "spending his time, frankly, going on right-wing media to bash the Democrats." Deluzio, who represents the Pittsburgh area, said he may challenge Fetterman in the 2028 primary.
The rift reflects a broader tension between Fetterman's unorthodox style and the Democratic base. His reaffirmation of loyalty to the Democratic caucus has done little to calm critics who see his outreach to Republicans as a betrayal.
Oz, who lost to Fetterman by five points in 2022 despite Fetterman's stroke during the campaign, said he "want[s] everyone in the party," adding, "God works in mysterious ways, but they're brilliant and loving ways and I'm very happy for that."
Fetterman's video also drew a rebuke from former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean, who called it "gravely disappointing." The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board slammed Fetterman as an "embarrassment" for his GOP ties.
Despite the backlash, Fetterman has shown no sign of leaving the Democratic Party, and his office has not commented on Oz's invitation.
