A Pennsylvania senator who has clashed with his party over his support for Israel says he rejects “extremism and socialism.”
Democratic Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman, who has distanced himself from the party, appeared in a video recording of the first day of the two-day Republican midterm convention in the United States.
Wednesday’s video came as a surprise to those who attended a conservative rally in Dallas, Texas, where President Donald Trump is trying to rally support ahead of the November election.
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“Yes, I’m Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I talking to you here today? Because I’m a common-sense Democrat,” Fetterman said, introducing his Republican colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania.
Fetterman is a 57-year-old first-term senator who stands as an outsider within the Democratic Party.
He has been outspoken in his support for war against Israel and Iran, even as voters and progressive voices within his party criticize these elements of U.S. foreign policy.
“I’m always going to support America. I’m always going to reject extreme socialism and anti-American ways of living,” Fetterman said in the video clip.
But his appearance at the first midterm convention in Republican history is likely to intensify criticism from his Democratic colleagues.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a fellow Pennsylvania Democrat, has repeatedly questioned Fetterman’s loyalty to his party and commitment to public service. He renewed that sentiment after Wednesday’s video aired.
“One year ago, I named John Fetterman ‘President Trump’s favorite Democrat.’ Tonight, he proved why again,” Boyle wrote on social media.
Fetterman also faces questions about his fitness for office following a series of reports detailing his apparent lack of enthusiasm for his Senate duties.
A recent Wall Street Journal article revealed that senators have canceled meetings with constituents.
In one case, he missed a June meeting with wounded veterans citing illness and then appeared for a Fox News interview about Israel and the United States’ joint war against Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal.
His approval rating is currently higher among Pennsylvania Republicans than among members of his own party.
Last month, a New York Times, Siena College and Philadelphia Inquirer poll found 73% of Pennsylvania Republicans approve of Fetterman’s performance, up from 25% in 2024.
Meanwhile, Democratic support in the state has fallen dramatically over the past two years, dropping from 74% to 22%. About 63% of Democratic respondents had a negative view of him.
Fetterman has portrayed himself as a maverick within the Democratic Party, but denies he plans to change parties to become a Republican.
“I’m not going to be a Republican, but I’m going to be a Democrat who can have an open dialogue with anybody,” he said in a recent interview with Fox News.
Still, speculation about Fetterman’s party membership continues as the midterm elections approach.
The Nov. 3 election will determine which party controls Congress for the final two years of President Trump’s term.
Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both chambers of Congress, but they could be set back in the polls as voters express dissatisfaction with the cost of living and President Trump’s deepening unpopularity.
Still, taking back the Senate in particular could be an uphill climb for Democrats. Of the 435 total seats in the House of Representatives, only one-third of the Senate seats are up for election this year.
Fetterman will not be up for re-election until 2028.
