Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman addressed his meeting with former President Donald Trump during an appearance on “The View” on Monday, defending the encounter as part of his role in government. The meeting at Mar-a-Lago, which took place ahead of Trump’s inauguration, drew some criticism from Fetterman’s own party members. Despite this, the Democratic senator described the meeting as “kind” and “cordial,” focusing on the substance of the conversation rather than the optics.

Fetterman noted that the meeting, which lasted over an hour, involved discussions on topics like protections for “Dreamers” and food stamp benefits. He emphasized that it was a genuine conversation, without any agenda to gain publicity. Trump, in turn, praised Fetterman, calling him a “commonsense person” in an interview with The Washington Examiner.

Fetterman clarified that his approach was not about creating conflict, but rather about securing wins for Pennsylvania and the nation. He explained that, as a public servant, engaging with the president was a necessary part of doing his job. He expressed his desire to focus on bipartisan solutions rather than contributing to the “venom and hate” that often dominates political discourse.

While some left-leaning critics voiced concerns over the optics of the meeting, Fetterman maintained that such conversations were important for effective governance. He emphasized that while he would continue to disagree with Trump on certain issues, working across party lines was essential for progress. Additionally, Fetterman dismissed the idea that he was helping to promote the notion that Trump was willing to cooperate with Democrats, suggesting that bipartisanship should be the goal rather than engaging in online hostility.

On the topic of Trump’s presidency, Fetterman remarked that the former president has remained true to his campaign promises, including his stance on pardoning January 6th individuals and focusing on border security. While Fetterman criticized many of Trump’s policies, he acknowledged that the former president was clear about his intentions during his campaign, particularly when it came to his concept of “retribution.”

This exchange highlights Fetterman’s focus on pragmatic political engagement and his reluctance to get drawn into partisan battles that he believes do little to advance meaningful change.