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 Wednesday night.

Fetterman appeared on video at the Republican midterm convention, praising Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and touting working with President Donald Trump.

“Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I’m a commonsense Democrat,” Fetterman said in the video message. “I’m always going 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.”

Fetterman also pointed to a U.S. Steel mill behind him, saying, “That’s exactly the kind of thing that we’ll work together, and we’ll work with President Trump, to fight and defend the steel way of life, right here in the Steel Valley.”

McCormick then thanked Fetterman for his “friendship” and his “courage.”

Reaction in the convention hall was muted, with only a few attendees cheering. The crowd did give loud applause when Fetterman concluded his message to introduce McCormick onstage.

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.

In a statement, Fetterman noted that he “overwhelmingly” votes with his party and said that if Democrats regain control of the Senate after the midterm elections, “I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on.”

“My remarks introduced Dave McCormick as a great American and friend,” he said. “We are in different parties, but we are both Team PA. We have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars back to Pennsylvania, fought for improved transportation and affordable housing, and the Steel Way of Life.”

Former Fetterman aides who spoke with NBC News on Wednesday said his decision to appear at an event — nicknamed “Trumpapalooza” — to boost Republicans ahead of the critical midterm elections was beyond the pale. A former aide described the appearance as “pathetic” and said McCormick is “working him like a dog.”

“He is a troll, so this kind of behavior makes sense, but to see it executed at this scale is really stunning,” said Trè Easton, a former legislative aide to Fetterman. “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 redounds to his benefit long term.”

A former top Fetterman aide, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the relationship, told NBC News last month that Fetterman has referred to McCormick as “his mentor” and seeks his approval. This person said the pair often text each other 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 Fetterman provided texts and internal documents detailing his lack of interest in engaging with constituents.

After the article was 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.”