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U.S. NEWS Friday 20 december 2019
Trump celebrates Rep. Van Drew's switch from Democrat to GOP

By ZEKE MILLER and JILL
COLVIN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi-
dent Donald Trump an-
nounced Thursday that
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a
New Jersey Democrat who
broke with his party to vote
against Trump's impeach-
ment, is officially switching
parties and becoming a
Republican.
"Jeff will be joining the Re-
publican Party," Trump an-
nounced during an Oval
Office event with Van
Drew, who broke the news
to his staff over the week-
end, prompting wide-
spread resignations. "It's a
big deal."
Van Drew on Wednesday
broke with his party and
voted against impeach-
ing Trump — a move that
bolstered GOP attempts to
depict Democrats as divid-
ed on the matter. Repub-
licans voted unanimously President Donald Trump meets with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, D-N.J., who is planning to switch his party affiliation, in the Oval Office of the
White House, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Washington.
against it. Associated Press
"I believe that this is just a
better fit for me," Van Drew would be a boon, saying open this week to Van "I've told him many times sistance in getting a com-
said of his decision, promis- that, "in any primary, when Drew becoming a Repub- he's more than welcome to mittee assignment or hiring
ing Trump his "undying sup- you have a president sup- lican and on Thursday en- join the Republican Party," staff, McCarthy said, "I'll
port." porting you, it is helpful, for couraged other Demo- McCarthy said. Asked if help him with whatever he
"This is who I am, it's who I sure." crats to join him. he's offered Van Drew as- needs."q
always was, but there was Democratic House Speaker
more tolerance of mod- Nancy Pelosi said Thursday
erate Democrats, of Blue that she had not discussed
Dog Democrats, of con- the move with Van Drew.
servative Democrats," said Asked by reporters whether
Van Drew, "and I think she had advice for him, she
that's going away." responded: "Nothing. Zero."
Trump, reveling in the deci- The 66-year-old Van Drew
sion, promised to return the had been a conserva-
favor and announced that tive state senator before
he is endorsing Van Drew he joined Congress, buck-
for reelection, calling him ing Democrats on issues
"a tremendous asset for the including gun control and
party." gay marriage. His district
Van Drew had been fac- has become increasingly
ing the possibility of an conservative, with Trump
uphill Democratic primary, carrying it narrowly in 2016
including a challenge from after Barack Obama won it
Brigid Harrison, a Montclair in 2008 and 2012.
State University political Van Drew met last week
science professor who is with Trump, who praised
frequently quoted in local the congressman Tuesday
press and had secured the on Twitter.
backing of top local Dem- "Congressman Jeff Van
ocrats, including the New Drew is very popular in our
Jersey senate president. great and very united Re-
Amy Kennedy, the wife of publican Party," the presi-
former Rhode Island Dem- dent wrote. "It was a tribute
ocratic Rep. Patrick Ken- to him that he was able
nedy, is also considering a to win his heavily Republi-
run. can district as a Democrat.
Van Drew told reporters on People like that are not
the Hill after his White House easily replaceable!"
meeting that he hoped the GOP House Leader Kevin
president's endorsement McCarthy held the door