In a revealing interview with Tucker Carlson, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien shed light on the union’s significant decision not to endorse any presidential candidate in the 2024 election for the first time in nearly three decades. This decision was not taken lightly but was rather a reflection of the candidates’ engagement with labor issues and, notably, their attitudes toward the union.
O’Brien detailed an interaction with Kamala Harris that painted a stark picture of her dismissive approach towards the Teamsters. He recounted how a member of the union’s executive board introduced herself to Harris at an event, only to receive a brusque response from the then-vice president: “Teamsters, you better get on board.” Carlson, taken aback by this, remarked, “D***. I thought I was arrogant. That’s really arrogant,” to which O’Brien responded, “That’s the attitude of this whole party.”
The union had a set protocol of 16 questions for all candidates to gauge their commitment to workers’ rights. Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. answered all questions thoroughly, demonstrating respect and engagement. In stark contrast, Joe Biden managed only five, while Harris, when she finally agreed to a meeting, answered just three before abruptly cutting the session short. O’Brien described the moment her team handed him a note indicating that the meeting would end prematurely, and Harris’s parting shot was, “I’m going to win with you or without you,” revealing her overconfidence and disregard for the union’s support.
🇺🇸 TEAMSTERS PRESIDENT SEAN O’BRIEN: KAMALA SAID SHE’D WIN WITH OR WITHOUT US
"RFK answered all 16 of our questions, even if we didn’t like the answers.
Trump answered all 16.
Biden only answered five before dropping out.
Kamala? She only answered three, and her staff cut… https://t.co/AEvgc8r3k8 pic.twitter.com/j310WrGV4j
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 24, 2024
This encounter, among other factors, influenced the Teamsters’ decision to withhold their endorsement. The union’s membership overwhelmingly favored Trump, with 59.6% supporting him against Harris’s 34%, a significant shift from earlier polls when Biden was in the race. O’Brien’s comments on Biden were telling; he noted a noticeable decline in the president’s capacity, describing the Democrats’ decision to run him again as “kinda like elderly abuse,” and while acknowledging Biden’s past support for labor, he could not ignore the president’s current state.
The Teamsters’ choice not to endorse in 2024 marks a historic moment, signaling a disconnect between the Democratic Party’s current leadership and the working class. O’Brien’s candid remarks on Fox News with Tucker Carlson underscore a broader sentiment within the labor movement, highlighting the arrogance of the political establishment and the need for candidates who genuinely respect and understand the workers they aim to represent.
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