Democrats in Pennsylvania reacted with a mix of annoyance and eye-rolling to Senator John Fetterman’s video appearance at Republicans’ midterm convention.
Page A8From§Eachthe midnight edition — 10 September 2026
Fetterman surprises GOP convention, praises McCormick, vows to work with Trump, and angers Democrats
First, Senator Fetterman appears at the GOP midterm convention in a surprise video, making headlines for crossing party lines. He’s already at odds with his party, so the move isn’t a shock, but it’s a step further: not only does he show up, he praises Republican candidate McCormick and vows to work with Donald Trump. The reaction is immediate—Democrats are angered, and the party’s unity takes a hit. The spine of the story is the sequence: Democrat makes a move, the move is working with the GOP, and the party’s response is outrage. The stakes are unity: what was supposed to be a party-line moment becomes a split-screen, and the ask for unity ends in a fractured front. The column walks the beats: surprise appearance, public praise, promise to work with Trump, and the fallout from Democrats. The joke is the setup—party unity—and the punchline is the sequence of events that delivers anything but.
“If you ever wondered how a Democrat winds up on the Republican stage, here’s your answer: Fetterman skipped the party line, crossed to the other team, and said he’d work with Trump. That’s not bipartisanship, it’s a switcheroo with the cameras rolling. Stakes? The party’s ask is unity; the reward is a split screen.”
“Look, Fetterman’s just reaching across the aisle—he’s showing that he can work with both sides. Isn’t that what everyone wants? Bipartisanship, right? Unless that’s not what they want. Did I say that? It’s not like he’s endorsing the platform, just McCormick. Or maybe he is. Who can say? The important thing is, no one’s angry about it. Wait, are they?”
The receipts
The Pennsylvania Democrat has already had a strained relationship with many inside his party. In the video, he spoke about working with Trump but did not outright praise him.
Fetterman Praises Trump, McCormick In Pre-Recorded Midterm Convention Video
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman appeared in a surprise video at the Republican Party's midterm convention on Wednesday, as he becomes increasingly isolated from his own party.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.