Trump center stage at RNC in midterms gamble – US politics live

John Fetterman – the Democratic senator from Pennsylvania who has found himself increasingly estranged from his party – is set to issue a video message praising Donald Trump at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas , according to a report from Axios.

The first-term lawmaker – who has cast several votes bucking Democrats – will be in the video that will play ahead of his colleague Senator Dave McCormick’s appearance on stage. Fetterman will thank Trump for his work in helping the US steel industry.

Citing unnamed sources, Axios reports that Fetterman isn’t expected to announce that he’s switching parties, but he is going to distance himself from the left flank of the Democratic party. McCormick helped arrange Fetterman’s appearance, according to one of Axios’ sources with knowledge of the situation.

Fetterman was the sole Democrat to vote no on several war powers resolutions to curb the Trump administration’s military action in Iran. Earlier this year, he voted to confirm Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Markwayne Mullin, and last year Fetterman routinely joined Republicans on key votes to keep the government open – while Senate Democrats withheld support for key appopriations bills to protest expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.

According to a New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll in August, 74% of Democrats in Pennsylvania had a favorable opinion of Fetterman in 2024 – two years after he won his Senate election – that has now fallen to 22% .

Meanwhile, only 25 % of Pennsylvania Repbublicans viewed Fetterman favorably in 2024. That number has shot up to 73%.

Despite not confirming whether he would seek a second term in office, Fetterman recently said that he has no intention to switch parties. He has, however, issued a caveat – he would consider leaving the Democratic caucus if it became the “anti-Israel party” .

Fetterman has emerged as one of Israel’s most prominent advocates among Senate Democrats , even as others in the party back away from their traditional support for the country amid accusations that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government committed genocide in Gaza.