Sen. John Fetterman makes a surprise cameo praising Republicans at the GOP convention

DALLAS — Just eight weeks out from the midterm elections, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., gave Republicans a boost on Wednesday night. Fetterman appeared on video at the Republican midterm convention, praising President Donald Trump and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa. The senator boosted their efforts to shape last year’s merger between U.S. Steel, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, and Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel. “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 message. “I’m always gong to stand with America. I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and the anti-American way of life. Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done, and he’s going to fight for Pennsylvania. I’m proud to count him as my friend.” McCormick then thanked Fetterman for his “friendship” and his “courage.” Reaction in the convention hall was muted for Fetterman’s message, with only a few attendees cheering. The crowd did give a loud applause when Fetterman concluded his message to introduce McCormick on stage. The appearance comes as Fetterman has built a close bipartisan relationship with McCormick. The two even launched a joint fundraising committee together, which triggered a wave of Democratic criticism of Fetterman, who has toyed with leaving the party but has vowed not to. Former Fetterman aides who spoke with NBC News on Wednesday said the Democratic senator’s decision to appear at an event — nicknamed “Trumpapalooza” — to boost Republicans ahead of the critical midterm elections was beyond the pale. One former aide to the senator described the appearance as “pathetic” and said McCormick is “working him like dog.” “He is a troll so this kind of behavior makes sense, but to see it executed at this scale is really stunning,” Trè Easton, a former legislative aide to Fetterman, said. “Also in what world is bear-hugging Trump, who is sitting at 27% approval in the state, smart for anyone? Obviously dumb for a Democrat to do it. But even if he’s thinking of going independent or fully switching, I just don’t think it rebounds to his benefit long term.” One former top Fetterman aide, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the relationship, told NBC News last month that the senator has referred to McCormick as “his mentor” and seeks his approval. This person said the pair often text one another and have dinner back in Pennsylvania. Both live in the Pittsburgh area. The appearance followed a bombshell report in The Wall Street Journal in which former aides to the senator provided texts and internal documents detailing Fetterman’s lack of interest in engaging with constituents. After that story published, McCormick came to Fetterman’s aid. “These stories are the latest example of outrageously disloyal staff and forces on the Left using anonymous leaks to cancel my friend John Fetterman,” he wrote on X. “They hate that he is an independent thinker who refuses to fall into line so they want to silence him.”