Donald Trump attended a meeting with the Teamsters union in a bid to gain support from workers in key electoral battlegrounds.
However, his past record as a businessman and president, particularly his preference for nonunion labor, has led to skepticism and criticism from some union members.
The Teamsters president praised President Biden and emphasized the need for further questions to be asked of both candidates.
“They’re wrong about that,” Trump said. “We have a good shot, I think,” he said of their endorsement. “They never had a better four years than they had during the Trump administration.”
Biden has been receiving early union endorsements, while Trump has faced backlash for his stance on labor issues.
“There’s no question the Biden administration has been great for unions,” Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said. “They all say they’re pro-worker or they say they’re going to support workers … We still have some more questions that need to be asked to both candidates.”
“Donald Trump pretends to be pro-worker, then sides with management and does nothing while factories close and jobs are lost,” Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said. “Trump’s long record of attacking unions and shipping jobs overseas while lining the pockets of his rich buddies speaks for itself.”
“Rarely, as a union, do you get so clear of a choice between two candidates,” UAW president Shawn Fain said. “Donald Trump is a scab. Donald Trump is a billionaire, and that’s who he represents.”
Trump’s visit to the Teamsters was an attempt to change the narrative, but his history of opposing union drives and his stance on immigration have raised concerns among some union members.
“This is a complete betrayal of union principles,” UPS employee Jess Lister said. “When we talk about being a union, we talk about representing and advocating for the most oppressed group. That is exactly the opposite of everything Donald Trump stands for.”
“The unions and the Teamsters, if they don’t have it closed down, they’re not going to exist,” Trump said.
“We are all products of immigration, and the Teamsters union supports immigrant workers,” O’Brien said.
