John Fetterman Responds With Frustration to Questions After RNC Speech
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman responded with frustration Tuesday, as reporters on Capitol Hill asked him about his intentions following his surprise appearance at the recent Republican National Convention.
The Democrat has come under increasing pressure from some of his own constituents over what they see as him turning away from Democratic Party policies after campaigning heavily as a more liberal candidate.
Last week, alleged former staffers of Fetterman started an X account in which they promised to share details on why they had become disenchanted with their former boss. The account promised details would be released September 14 or 15, when the Senate returned, but at the time of publishing, no further posts have appeared.
Fetterman was asked about the account and other reports around concerns from within his team Tuesday. The Senator initially ignored the questions.
“I’m not going to be a Republican," he eventually responded in frustration. "Why can’t you guys just wait till the midterms? And if I turn a Republican, then I’ll be a liar."
Newsweek reached out to Fetterman's office for comment Tuesday afternoon.
On Monday, a former staffer for the Senator told Newsweek that his boss has to be begged to do more of his job, as he became increasingly disinterested in carrying out his Congressional duties.
The former staffer, who was granted anonymity because of their current employment, corroborated details reported by the Wall Street Journal, which characterized Fetterman as showing "little interest" in his day-to-day responsibilities.
Fetterman has been facing pressure to step down from his Senate seat following the Journal report, which alleged a long-running pattern of apathy about his Senate work.
Key allegations included claims that Fetterman routinely skips important hearings, is more concerned with media appearances and his pro-Israel advocacy than constituency work, and that he has avoided and canceled meetings with constituents and certain groups.
Reporters asked Fetterman about the allegations and if he had any concerns—questions which he ignored. It was the query about whether he would become a Republican that prompted a response.
“My name is not on the ballot. Chill," Fetterman said Tuesday. "I've always been a Democrat. No matter how many times I say that, I'm still getting asked just getting into the elevator."
Fetterman made a video appearance at the RNC midterms event last week, speaking about the U.S. steel industry.
Standing in front of Western Pennsylvania's Mon Valley Works steel mill, Fetterman said he and Republican Senator Dave McCormick would work with President Donald Trump “to fight and defend the steel way of life right here in the Steel Valley.”
“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,” he said in the video.
The appearance sparked confusion among some Democrats as to why Fetterman would opt to appear at a rival party event.
Elected in 2022, after previously serving as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and then as the state's Lieutenant Governor, Fetterman's term is set to end in 2028, meaning he is not up for re-election this November.
That hasn't stopped speculation over his political future, with polling showing the senator's favorability numbers having effectively flipped since 2024.
Two years ago, 74 percent of Democrats viewed him favorably, and 64 percent of Republicans viewed him unfavorably. The latest survey found 73 percent of Republicans now have a positive opinion of the senator, while only 22 percent of Democrats do.
The Inquirer/New York Times/Siena University poll, conducted August 17-21 among 760 Pennsylvania voters, found broader dissatisfaction among Democratic voters.
Among likely Democratic voters, 67 percent believed Fetterman supported President Donald Trump too often, while about half said he had been overly supportive of Israel.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas
