Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania made an unusual appearance at the state's Republican midterm convention Wednesday night, delivering a video message in which he praised Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and highlighted his willingness to work with President Donald Trump, reported NBC News.
“Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I’m a common-sense Democrat," Fetterman said in the video message. “I’m always going to stand with America. I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and the anti-American way of life. Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done, and he’s going to fight for Pennsylvania. I’m proud to count him as my friend."
With a US Steel mill visible behind him, Fetterman added, “That’s exactly the kind of thing that we’ll work together, and we’ll work with President Trump, to fight and defend the steel way of life, right here in the Steel Valley." McCormick subsequently thanked Fetterman for his “friendship" and his “courage."
The response from the convention audience to Fetterman's video was largely restrained, according to NBC News, with only a small number of attendees cheering during his remarks. The crowd responded with loud applause, however, when Fetterman finished his message and introduced McCormick to the stage.
The appearance underscores the increasingly close relationship between the two Pennsylvania senators. Fetterman and McCormick have also established a joint fundraising committee, a move that prompted criticism from Democrats. Fetterman has previously considered leaving the Democratic Party but has said he will remain a Democrat.
Several former Fetterman aides told NBC News on Wednesday that they viewed his participation in the Republican gathering, dubbed “Trumpapalooza," as inappropriate given the importance of the upcoming midterm elections. Trè Easton, a former legislative aide to Fetterman, called the appearance “pathetic" and said McCormick is “working him like dog."
Fetterman's relationship with Republicans has also been accompanied by his strong support for Israel, which has frequently put him at odds with progressive Democrats. Following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, he displayed posters of Israelis abducted by Hamas in his front office and kept them there until all of the hostages had safely returned.
When anti-Israel protesters demonstrated outside his office and accused Israel of genocide, Fetterman responded by waving an Israeli flag from the roof of the building.
In July, Fetterman reiterated that he planned to remain a Democrat, while saying that a formal shift by the party toward an anti-Israel position could lead him to leave.
"If our party ever becomes - and just makes it official - the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me," Fetterman stated at the time.
He also questioned why Democrats would distance themselves from a major Middle Eastern democracy with shared values and expressed concern over growing pressure from progressive activists to reduce traditional US support for Israel.
"My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel," he explained.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, subsequently said Republicans would be willing to welcome Fetterman into their caucus if he ultimately leaves the Democratic Party over disagreements concerning Israel.
“Yes, we would welcome him," Thune said when asked whether Republicans would roll out the red carpet for Fetterman if he ever decides to leave the Democratic Party.
Thune said he and other Republican senators have already spoken with Fetterman about the tensions he faces within the Democratic caucus.
“I have had conversations with him in the past as have many of my colleagues about the challenges he faces in his caucus. And there are many of us who, I think, would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference but ultimately that’s a decision that’s up to him," Thune said.
Thune also argued that the Democratic Party is “moving further and further, more radically, to the more extreme left on a lot of issues."