At the headquarters of the Teamsters union in Washington, District of Columbia, on Wednesday, President Trump participated in a roundtable discussion with both union executives and regular members of the union.
The organization, which represents more than 1.3 million people in the labor force (including technicians, performers, and police officers), has not yet decided who they would support in the election of 2024; nevertheless, they pledged their support to Joe Biden in the election of 2020.
Subsequently, the president stated to the reporters that his conversation with the union had been “productive” after the session that took place behind closed doors.
He continued by saying, “We had a very strong meeting with the Teamsters,” and he stated that he has employed hundreds of union members. He also stated that he had “great relationships” with the leadership of the union, including President Sean O’Brien, whom he complimented as a “great leader.”
Even though “they never do that,” Trump refrained from asserting that he was expecting an immediate endorsement by the candidate. On the other hand, he gave off an air of self-assurance when he said, “I believe we have a good shot at them.”
The former president was convicted guilty by a jury of sexually abusing journalist E. Jean Carroll in the previous year, and as a result of the judgment, he was just granted $83 million in a defamation claim. There were additional topics that were discussed during the former president’s interrogation. Not only has he denied misbehavior on many occasions, but he has also promised to challenge the decision.
Trump avoided answering questions from reporters on Wednesday regarding the possibility of using campaign finances to cover the defamation award and possible fines in a civil fraud case in New York. He continued his defense of his innocence and his criticism of the judges who were involved in the case.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “I’m sorry…”
In a separate development, President Trump refuted allegations that he was opposed to efforts by members of both parties to negotiate a border and immigration measure on Capitol Hill because doing so would result in “a win” for Democrats and Vice President Biden.
Trump stated that meeting with his Republican opponent Nikki Haley would be a “waste” of their time, even though the Teamsters had extended an invitation to all of the candidates for the presidency who were running for the presidency.
It would appear that Haley will not be meeting with the Teamsters union, even though she sent a press release on Wednesday conveying the impression that Trump shared the political values of the Teamsters. According to allegations made by his secretary, he “is looking more like Joe Biden every day.”
Additionally, an invitation to participate in a “rank-and-file roundtable” with the union was given to Vice President Biden; however, sources have informed ABC News that the scheduling specifics are still being negotiated right now.
“The President is eager to meet with the Teamsters and secure their endorsement,” said a spokeswoman for Biden’s team. “The Teamsters overwhelmingly support the President.”
Within a short period before Trump met with Teamsters, the United Auto Workers union gave Joe Biden an overwhelming endorsement. At the same time, the President of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Shawn Fain, issued a statement in which he sharply denounced President Trump, calling him a “scab” and defining him as someone who gives priority to billionaires over those from working-class backgrounds.
Donald Trump replied by attacking Fain after Fain failed to defend autoworkers and sold the business to China. Fain had sold the industry to China. Trump continued his assault on the United Auto Workers (UAW) on Wednesday, this time claiming that the union had made a “terrible decision” to allow Chinese manufacturers to create electric automobiles because of their decision.
After he met with the Teamsters, Trump proceeded to court the autoworkers by reiterating his plan to put tariffs on foreign countries to “bring jobs back to the United States.” This was done even though the United Auto Workers had endorsed Joe Biden.
From the very beginning of the campaign, Donald Trump has been making efforts to win over members of labor unions to get ready for a potential battle with Joe Biden during the general election.
Trump positioned himself as the only candidate who would stand up for the working class during the strike by auto workers in a speech that he delivered in Michigan in September. The statement was offered in reaction to the second debate that took place during the Republican primary.
Despite assertions to the contrary, Trump gave his speech at a factory that manufactures automobile parts and does not have any employees who are members of labor unions. In Michigan, the day before, Vice President Biden was there on the picket line alongside striking auto workers.
In the 2016 election, the blue-collar and union voters who supported Trump in his first bid for president helped swing the election across the Midwest and the Rust Belt, changing the tide in states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Post Source: abcnews.go.com