He’s trying to get their endorsement before Biden.
In an upcoming engagement, former President Donald Trump is set to meet with the Teamsters Union, strategically targeting a demographic that previously supported President Joe Biden. The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, will involve a roundtable discussion at the union’s Washington headquarters, featuring Trump alongside Teamsters President Sean O’Brien and other key members.
Confirmation of the meeting came from both a spokesperson for the Trump campaign and the former president himself on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump expressed anticipation, noting the substantial number of Teamsters members who voted for him.
President Biden, who secured the Teamsters’ endorsement in the 2020 election, has also been invited to participate in a Teamsters rank-and-file roundtable on the same day. While a campaign official for Biden expressed eagerness, it remains uncertain if the president will attend.
The Teamsters framed the roundtable as an opportunity for candidates to discuss collaborative efforts with the union in empowering workers, promoting labor standards, and strengthening the American economy. Notably, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, a GOP figure and Trump’s rival for the party’s nomination, has also received an invitation.
Trump’s outreach to the Teamsters aims to sway traditionally Democratic-leaning union members. Despite the union’s past endorsement of Hillary Clinton in 2016, there seems to be a willingness among Teamsters to engage with Trump as the election approaches. President O’Brien emphasized the diversity of their members’ political affiliations, stressing the importance of candidates addressing the concerns of the 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide.
As Trump seeks union support, President Biden has already secured endorsements from various unions, including the United Auto Workers and an early nod from the AFL-CIO in June. This sets the stage for an intriguing political landscape leading up to the 2024 election.
