Senator John Fetterman made a surprising move this week by appearing in a prerecorded video for the Republican National Committee midterm convention. The Pennsylvania Democrat used his screen time to praise Republican Senator Dave McCormick, calling him a “friend” who gets the job done. This appearance occurred on Wednesday just before McCormick took the stage to deliver his own remarks.
Fetterman stated in the video that he is a “commonsense Democrat.” He also promised that he and McCormick would collaborate with President Donald Trump to protect the steel industry in Pennsylvania. This pivot toward bipartisanship has sparked a significant backlash from his own party members.
Representative Madeleine Dean, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, expressed her frustration with the situation during a House Democratic event on Thursday, as reported by The Hill. She described the appearance as a “stunt” and labeled the entire ordeal as “gravely disappointing.” “I will tell you from the ground from suburban Philadelphia, my constituents are livid,” Dean said. “Those who went out and knocked doors for him — they are absolutely livid.”
Dean explained that her reaction stems from her personal history with the senator
She mentioned that she got to know him and his family while running against him in 2018 for the office of lieutenant governor. She once respected his values, but she believes his performance in the Senate has shifted drastically since those days. She pointed out that his recent behavior is quite different from the person she encountered years ago.
Rep. Madeleine Dean on Sen. John Fetterman’s RNC appearance:
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 10, 2026
“He lost me last night with that stunt. He, like me, should be talking about how do we make life more affordable for Americans.” pic.twitter.com/WEXqVduxJn
The criticism from Dean goes beyond just this single video appearance. She highlighted concerns regarding his overall work ethic and his presence in the legislative process. She stated that he does not participate much in his own committees and often fails to attend them entirely.
Fetterman has positioned himself as a staunch progressive in the past, particularly during his 2022 Senate campaign. However, he has increasingly distanced himself from that political identity. Recent reports suggest he has shown little interest in meeting with certain constituent groups, such as a children’s hospital in Philadelphia that had concerns about vaccines and Medicaid cuts. Sources indicate that he has been prioritizing Israel advocacy efforts and meetings with conservative media outlets instead.
While Fetterman has argued that the current political climate requires a more bipartisan approach, these tactics are clearly causing friction within his own party.
