Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman made a surprise appearance via video on the first day of the Republican Party's two-day midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday.

The 64-second clip aired at the conservative gathering at the American Airlines Center, where President Donald Trump is seeking to rally support ahead of the November elections.

In the video, Fetterman introduced Pennsylvania's Republican Senator Dave McCormick, describing him as "the kind of senator that gets the job done" and saying he was "proud to count him as my friend." The two senators have grown increasingly close in recent months.

Standing in front of an industrial site in Pennsylvania while wearing his trademark black hoodie, Fetterman spoke about preserving the region's steel industry.

"That's the iconic U.S. Steel mill and that's exactly the kind of thing that we'll work on together," he said. "We'll work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life, right here in the Steel Valley."

The video contained multiple references to Fetterman's Democratic affiliation, while also alluding to his growing tensions with elements of his own party.

"Yes, I'm Senator John Fetterman, Pennsylvania. Yes, I'm a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I'm a common-sense Democrat," he said. "I'm always going to stand with America. I'm always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life."

Before the video aired, there had been reports that Fetterman would openly praise Trump. He stopped short of that, though his reference to working with the president was the closest he came.

Fetterman, 57, was elected in 2022. He suffered a stroke during his campaign and later went through a public battle with depression shortly after taking office. He has since cast himself as an outsider within the Democratic Party, offering vocal support for Israel and the US-led war on Iran, positions that have drawn criticism from progressive voices and voters within his party.

His appearance at the Republican convention is likely to deepen that criticism. US Representative Brendan Boyle, a fellow Pennsylvania Democrat, renewed his questioning of Fetterman's party allegiance after the video aired.

"A year ago I labeled John Fetterman 'Trump's favorite Democrat.' Tonight, he yet again proves why," Boyle wrote on social media.

Fetterman has also faced scrutiny over his commitment to his Senate duties. A Wall Street Journal report published earlier this month, based on interviews with former staffers and lawmakers, found that he had shown little interest in performing his senatorial responsibilities and had instead focused on building relationships with conservative media figures and advocating for Israel. The report said he cancelled meetings with constituents and skipped a June meeting with injured military veterans, citing illness, only to appear later for a television interview about Israel and the war on Iran.

Fetterman rejected the report. "Per usual — lies, half-truths, innuendos, smears and anonymous," he said in a statement. "No matter how many smears or stories, I'm proud to continue to deliver for Pennsylvania." He added that leaked text messages cited in the story were "stripped of any context and circumstances."

Despite the controversy, Fetterman has denied any intention of switching parties.

"I'm not going to be a Republican, but I'm going to be a Democrat that's going to have a conversation with whoever is playing it straight," he said in a recent interview.

His standing within Pennsylvania reflects his unusual political position. A recent poll conducted by the New York Times, Siena College, and the Philadelphia Inquirer found that 73 percent of Pennsylvania Republicans approved of his performance, up from 25 percent in 2024. Among Democrats in the state, his approval had fallen sharply, dropping from 74 percent to 22 percent over the same period, with 63 percent of Democratic respondents holding an unfavorable view of him. A separate survey found he is viewed more favorably by Pennsylvania Republicans than McCormick, the state's Republican senator.

Fetterman is not up for re-election until 2028.

The November 3 midterm elections will determine which party controls Congress for the final two years of Trump's term. Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, though they face potential losses as voters express frustration over the cost of living and Trump's declining approval ratings. Democrats face a particularly steep path to reclaiming the Senate, as only one-third of Senate seats are on the ballot this cycle, compared with all 435 House seats.