Fetterman appears in video at GOP convention praising McCormick, September 9

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania appeared in a pre-recorded video at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on September 9, endorsing Republican colleague Dave McCormick and pledging to work with him and President Trump on steel industry issues, per reporting by the Guardian and NPR. The roughly one-minute video, recorded outside the Mon Valley Works steel processing plant in Pittsburgh, shows Fetterman in his trademark black hoodie saying: "Yes, I'm a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because well, I'm a commonsense Democrat. 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." He called McCormick his "great friend" and said he would work with him and Trump "to fight and defend the steel way of life," per the Guardian. The video was released at a moment when Democrats, holding 47 Senate seats, need to flip four seats in November to win control, according to CBS News. A defection by Fetterman would jeopardize their narrow path to a majority. However, Fetterman said in a statement to CBS News after the video aired: "I was a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party, and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on." He has repeatedly told the Guardian he does not plan to switch parties, though he has suggested he would be forced to formally break with the Democratic Party if it ever became "the anti-Israel party." Fetterman's appearance at the GOP convention reflects a pattern of bipartisan outreach that has drawn criticism from within his own party. After Trump won the 2024 election, Fetterman became the first Senate Democrat to meet with the incoming president at his Palm Beach residence, per CBS News. He has backed Trump's strategy in Iran and broken with congressional Democrats during last year's government shutdown, according to CBS News. In an op-ed in May, according to CBS News, Fetterman wrote: "I'd be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats." Polling shows Fetterman's standing among Pennsylvania Democrats has eroded sharply. According to NPR, a recent New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sienna University poll found only 22 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats view him favorably, while he is viewed more favorably by Pennsylvania Republicans than McCormick himself. McCormick praised Fetterman on stage after the video aired, saying "How great is John Fetterman?" and commending the Democrat for his "friendship" and "courage," per CBS News. However, Fetterman has faced increased scrutiny over his Senate work. According to NPR, the Wall Street Journal reported in early September that Fetterman showed little interest in performing his job as senator and instead focused on building relationships with conservative media figures and advocating for Israel, based on interviews with former staffers and lawmakers. In response, per NPR, Fetterman said: "Per usual, lies, half-truths, innuendos, smears and anonymous. No matter how many smears or stories, I'm proud to continue to deliver for Pennsylvania."