Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) said Elon Musk remains “incredibly popular” among Americans in the wake of his endorsement of former President Donald Trump, and added that the billionaire is able to “appeal to a demographic that Democrats have struggled” to reach with a political message.
Fetterman on Sunday also suggested Musk’s unique celebrity status and ability to reach voters makes his endorsement unique during his appearance on “The Hill Sunday,” where the senator called it a “situation” Democrats “have to acknowledge” as Musk continues to support Trump.
“Most endorsements don’t count for much in this business, but Musk is incredibly popular,” said Fetterman, noting Musk’s “appeal to a demographic that Democrats have struggled with here.”
Fetterman added, “some people, they see him as Tony Stark. He’s the world’s richest man and he’s undeniably a brilliant guy,” comparing Musk to the fictional billionaire who leads a second life as the Iron Man comic book superhero.
His remarks came after the senator previously called Musk’s endorsement a “big deal,” and revealed he planned to counter the businessman’s effect on the vote with his own events in traditionally Republican parts of Pennsylvania.
The senator gave more details on his efforts to help Democrats in traditionally red portions of the commonwealth in another portion of his interview with the NewsNation program, noting Trump won counties in 2016 and 2020 that were traditionally a 60-40 split between Republicans and Democrats by even larger percentages.
“We can’t afford to lose 80-20, 80-20, 80-20, times 57,” said Fetterman, referencing the county-level losses Democrats experience in rural areas when running against Trump, and suggesting the number would be multiplied by the number of rural counties in Pennsylvania.
Fetterman argued, “We have to jam them up. To me, for Democrats, the key is in the margin.”
Though Fetterman maintained Pennsylvania’s electorate continues to balance on a knife’s edge, he told “The Hill Sunday” he remains convinced Vice President Kamala Harris will carry the Keystone State.
“This is exactly what I’ve been expecting, and this is what I’ve been saying, the same thing since 2016,” said Fetterman. “I’ve always been saying, when Trump is on the ballot, it’s going to be very, very close.”
While maintaining his belief that Harris will carry the commonwealth, Fetterman has repeatedly urged Democrats to take the prospect of a Trump victory in Pennsylvania seriously.
Fetterman previously argued Trump enjoys a “special kind of a hold” over Pennsylvania voters that “only deepened” after he survived an assassination attempt in Butler on July 13.
Watch part of Fetterman’s remarks:
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Elon Musk and Donald Trump” by TeamTrump.
