John Fetterman Makes Surprise Video Appearance at Republican Midterm Convention

The Pennsylvania senator, a Democrat who has frequently clashed with his party over Israel, says he will reject “the extremes and socialism.”

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat who has increasingly positioned himself apart from his party, appeared in a prerecorded video on the opening day of the Republican Party’s two-day midterm convention in the United States.

The surprise video was shown Wednesday at the conservative gathering in Dallas, Texas, where President Donald Trump is seeking to rally support ahead of the November elections.

“Yes, I’m Senator John Fetterman, Pennsylvania. Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I’m a common-sense Democrat,” Fetterman said as he introduced Pennsylvania’s Republican senator, Dave McCormick.

Fetterman, a 57-year-old first-term senator, has cultivated an outsider image within the Democratic Party.

He has strongly supported Israel and its war with Iran, despite criticism from some Democratic voters and progressive voices over aspects of US foreign policy.

“I’m always going to stand with America. I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life,” Fetterman said in the video.

His appearance at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention is likely to intensify criticism from Democratic colleagues.

US Representative Brendan Boyle, another Pennsylvania Democrat, has repeatedly questioned Fetterman’s loyalty to his party and his commitment to public service. He voiced similar concerns after the video aired Wednesday.

“A year ago I labeled John Fetterman ‘Trump’s favorite Democrat.’ Tonight, he yet again proves why,” Boyle wrote on social media.

Fetterman has also faced questions about his ability to perform his duties after reports described an apparent lack of enthusiasm for his Senate responsibilities.

A recent Wall Street Journal article found that the senator had cancelled meetings with constituents.

In one instance, The Wall Street Journal reported that Fetterman skipped a June meeting with injured military veterans because of illness, only to appear later for a Fox News interview about Israel and its joint war with the US on Iran.

His approval rating is now higher among Pennsylvania Republicans than among members of his own party.

A poll released last month by The New York Times, Siena College and The Philadelphia Inquirer found that 73 percent of Pennsylvania Republicans approved of Fetterman’s performance, up from 25 percent in 2024.

Meanwhile, Democratic approval of the senator in the state has fallen sharply over the past two years, dropping from 74 percent to 22 percent. About 63 percent of Democratic respondents held an unfavorable view of him.

Although Fetterman has portrayed himself as a maverick within the Democratic Party, he has denied any intention of switching sides to become a Republican.

“I’m not going to be a Republican, but I’m going to be a Democrat that’s going to have a conversation with whoever is playing it straight,” he said in a recent Fox News interview.

Speculation about Fetterman’s party alignment has continued as the midterm elections approach.

The November 3 election will determine which party controls Congress during the final two years of Trump’s term.

Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, although they could suffer losses as voters express frustration over the cost of living and Trump’s declining popularity.

Retaking the Senate could prove especially difficult for Democrats. Only one-third of Senate seats are up for election this year, compared with all 435 seats in the House.

Fetterman is not up for re-election until 2028.

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