Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman made an unexpected appearance at a Republican gathering Wednesday, delivering a video message introducing fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick during the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas.
The 64-second video was shown at the American Airlines Center, where Republicans gathered for a convention featuring President Donald Trump and other party leaders. Fetterman did not appear in person.
Standing near an industrial site in Pennsylvania and wearing his familiar black hoodie, Fetterman praised McCormick, a Republican, as a friend and a senator who gets results. He also emphasized their cooperation on protecting Pennsylvania steel jobs.
Fetterman said he and McCormick would work with Trump to protect the steel industry and jobs in Pennsylvania’s Steel Valley. Despite advance reports suggesting Fetterman might praise the president directly, his comments focused primarily on cooperation with McCormick and the Trump administration on steel.
The appearance was unusual for a Democratic senator at a major Republican political event and comes as Fetterman has increasingly separated himself from some positions and rhetoric within his own party.
Fetterman repeatedly identified himself as a Democrat during the video, describing himself as a common-sense Democrat and saying he rejects political extremes and socialism.
The Pennsylvania senator and McCormick have developed an unusually friendly relationship despite representing opposing parties. Their cooperation has included issues affecting Pennsylvania as well as areas where Fetterman has differed with many Democrats, including his strong support for Israel.
Fetterman’s relationship with his party has drawn increased attention in recent months. He has said he has no plans to leave the Democratic Party, although he told CNN earlier this summer that an anti-Israel shift by the party could cause him to reconsider.
Fetterman also recently disputed a Wall Street Journal report questioning his engagement with his Senate duties, calling the account inaccurate and saying he remains focused on delivering results for Pennsylvania.
The senator was elected in 2022 after previously serving as Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor and mayor of Braddock, a steel community near Pittsburgh.
Source: NPR