Fetterman Bashes Socialism in Surprise GOP Convention Video
Fetterman Bashes Socialism in Surprise GOP Convention Video
The News
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania appeared on video at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday night, rejecting "socialism" in his own party and promising to work with President Trump on steel.
The roughly one-minute pre-recorded message introduced Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, Fetterman's fellow Pennsylvania senator, before McCormick's speech at the American Airlines Center, CNN reported.
The cameo landed eight weeks before the midterm elections, with control of the Senate in play, NBC News reported.
What He Said
"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. "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."
Standing in front of a U.S. Steel mill, he 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."
He called McCormick "the kind of senator that gets the job done" and said, "He's in a different party, but I'm proud to count him as my great friend." He did not announce a party switch.
Timeline
Fetterman writes in a Washington Post op-ed that he is "an independent voice that works with the other side to deliver for Pennsylvanians" with "no plans" to leave the Democratic Party, adding that he would be "a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats."
He tells CNN's Manu Raju he does not plan to leave the party unless it becomes officially "anti-Israel."
The Wall Street Journal reports, using texts and internal documents from former aides, that Fetterman showed little interest in engaging with constituents. Democrats denounce him over it. McCormick defends him on X, writing that the stories are "the latest example of outrageously disloyal staff and forces on the Left using anonymous leaks to cancel my friend John Fetterman."
Axios reports first that Fetterman is preparing a convention video praising Trump and McCormick, and that McCormick helped arrange the appearance.
The video airs in Dallas. NBC News reported the reaction in the hall was muted, with only a few attendees cheering during the message, though the crowd applauded loudly when he finished and McCormick took the stage.
Reactions
McCormick, taking the stage after the video: "How great is John Fetterman, right? Thank you Senator Fetterman for your friendship, thank you for your courage and thank you for all you do for Pennsylvania."
Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Pennsylvania Democrat, told CNN's Jake Tapper earlier Wednesday that voters back home are "pretty frustrated" with Fetterman. "John Fetterman is nowhere to be found. And frankly, folks don't want him on the trail. He's spending his time, frankly, going on right-wing media to bash the Democrats."
Trè Easton, a former legislative aide to Fetterman, told NBC News: "He is a troll so this kind of behavior makes sense, but to see it executed at this scale is really stunning." Easton questioned the strategy of "bear-hugging Trump, who is sitting at 27% approval in the state." Another former aide called the appearance "pathetic."
What's Next
The midterm elections are eight weeks away, and Democrats are competing for the seats they need to take the Senate.
Deluzio said he has gotten "a lot of encouragement" to challenge Fetterman in a 2028 Democratic Senate primary but will decide "when the time comes," after this fall's races.
Fetterman's term ends in 2028, and he has not said whether he will seek reelection.
More
Fetterman has spent months at odds with his party: he has voted for some of Trump's nominees, backed the president's military actions in the Middle East and sided with Republicans on recent Iran war powers votes, CNN and NOTUS reported. He and McCormick have also launched a joint fundraising committee, which drew a wave of Democratic criticism.
Fetterman skipped his own party's convention in 2024. His standing with Pennsylvania Democrats has collapsed — Mediaite, citing CNN's polling analysis, reported his net approval with them went from +68 points to -40 by March, a 108-point swing.
Poll
Should Fetterman stay in the Democratic Party?
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