Stephen A. Smith criticized Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman for appearing in a Republican convention video and praising Sen. Dave McCormick. Smith said working across party lines was reasonable, but argued Fetterman went too far. He also questioned what Pennsylvania would gain from the Democrat’s public support for Republican leaders.
In the clip, Fetterman identified himself as a “common-sense Democrat” and rejected “the extremes and socialism.” He praised McCormick as a senator who “gets the job done” and said they would work with President Donald Trump. Fetterman specifically pledged cooperation to “fight and defend the steel way of life” in Pennsylvania.
Smith said politicians should communicate and negotiate with opponents, but drew a distinction between cooperation and convention praise. “That’s a bit excessive,” he said. He repeatedly called Fetterman’s appearance “not a good look” for a Democratic senator.
His criticism then turned to what Pennsylvania should receive from that relationship. “You better be getting something out of it for the state of Pennsylvania,” Smith said. Otherwise, he argued, Fetterman would “look like a damn fool.” Smith also questioned whether Trump or McCormick would make a comparable appearance for Fetterman.
Stephen A. Smith Faces Pushback Over John Fetterman GOP Appearance
That criticism prompted a wider dispute over whether Fetterman crossed a partisan line or simply demonstrated the cooperation politicians often promise.
“How exactly is this a bad look??” one user asked. Another questioned Smith’s argument more broadly: “Bi-partisanship is now a bad look…say what?!?”
Others defended Fetterman for putting political differences aside. “Seriously, SAS, this is your take? @SenFettermanPA just demonstrated the look we want from every damn one of our political leaders,” one response stated. Another wrote, “Terrible take – there used to be a time when both sides of the aisle working together and being congenial to each other – actually benefited the American people.”
Some users sided with Smith and objected to Fetterman’s appearance. “Fetterman doesn’t have to do all that for a Republican! We dems didn’t vote for Fetterman to act like this!” one wrote. Another called it “a betrayal of trust for the people that voted for him.”
Fetterman framed the appearance around Pennsylvania steel and his relationship with McCormick rather than any broader shift in his political allegiance. The clip did not announce a new steel agreement, but it was still enough to reignite debate over Fetterman’s willingness to work publicly with Republicans.
