Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego (D) has warned that Republicans are actively trying to pull Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) toward their side, as questions continue to swirl around Fetterman’s mental health and shifting political stance.

“There needs to be space for Fetterman and for other senators in our caucus,” Gallego said during a Saturday interview in Pennsylvania, emphasizing that Fetterman still fights for working-class Americans even if he’s taken controversial positions. “We may not be 100 percent in agreement … but we don’t have to be.”

Top Republicans have publicly defended Fetterman in recent weeks, with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) accusing the “radical left” of attacking Fetterman for his strong pro-Israel stance. Cotton tweeted that progressives “only want reliable anti-Israel politicians.”

When asked whether the GOP is trying to flip Fetterman or at least sway his votes, Gallego didn’t hesitate: “Of course,” he said, describing it as political “fuck-fuck games,” a term from his time in the Marines.

While Fetterman has denied any intent to switch parties, conservative efforts to praise and court him continue. A Club for Growth ad currently airing in Pennsylvania applauds Fetterman as a fighter for working families and urges him to support Trump-era tax cuts — a measure Fetterman has previously voted against.

Despite public assurances from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that Fetterman is “doing a good job,” tensions remain. Some House Democrats from Pennsylvania have responded cautiously, pointing to recent reporting that raises questions about his conduct and capacity.

Gallego used his visit to Pennsylvania to argue that the Democratic Party must preserve its big-tent identity. “We got so pure that we started kicking people out of the tent,” he told a town hall audience. “It ends up there aren’t enough people in the tent to win elections.”

His comments followed questions about fundraising ties to pro-Trump figures like venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Gallego defended his outreach strategy, noting Andreessen runs Arizona’s largest VC firm.

Speculation is also growing around Gallego’s national ambitions. Asked whether he’s considered a presidential run, Gallego replied bluntly: “Fucking of course … Am I thinking about it right now? Absolutely not.”