On Thursday, tech billionaire Elon Musk received commendations from Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who acknowledged their differing political viewpoints. Fetterman expressed his respect for Musk, stating, “I admire Mr. Musk. He’s been involved in very important parts of American society: AI, SpaceX, and other kinds of things,” during a Capitol Hill interview.
Despite their political differences, Fetterman emphasized that this does not equate to animosity. “Yes, he is on a different team, but that doesn’t make me an enemy,” he said. He further explained, “I don’t … [am not] automatically going to become a critic,” highlighting his appreciation for Musk’s contributions to the economy.
Musk responds positively to Fetterman’s remarks, emphasizing country over party
Fetterman remarked, “It’s like, ‘Hey, he has made our economy and our nation better.’” He acknowledged their political disagreements but maintained that such differences do not diminish Musk’s positive impact.
In response to Fetterman’s comments, Musk took to the platform X, which he owns, to express his admiration. “Hard not to like @SenFettermanPA. He puts country over party,” Musk tweeted.
The senator’s remarks followed Musk’s appointment by President-elect Trump to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Earlier this year, Fetterman noted that Musk, a prominent Trump supporter, resonates with a demographic that has historically been challenging for Democrats to connect with.
“Most endorsements don’t count for much in this business, but Musk is … incredibly popular, and he has an appeal to a demographic that Democrats have struggled with,” Fetterman shared during an October appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.” He added, “To some people, they see him as, ‘That’s Tony Stark.’ He’s the world’s richest man, and he’s undeniably a brilliant guy.”
Demonstrating a willingness to critique his party, Fetterman has expressed openness to confirming some of Trump’s Cabinet nominees when he takes office in January. This includes Mehmet Oz, the Republican candidate he defeated for the Pennsylvania Senate seat.
Additionally, he has shown support for President Biden’s decision to grant clemency to Trump for his New York hush money conviction, particularly after Biden announced a pardon for his own son, Hunter Biden.
