Former President Donald Trump highlighted his collaboration with the Teamsters union in New York, emphasizing his involvement in constructing numerous buildings alongside the union members. This acknowledgment came during a press briefing where Teamsters representatives were present, showcasing the growing relationship between the Trump campaign and the union.
Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien engaged in discussions with Trump at the latter's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida earlier this year. Additionally, Trump convened a meeting with Teamsters leaders and members at the union’s headquarters in Washington, DC, in January.
In a significant move, the Teamsters’ political arm contributed $45,000 to the Republican National Committee in January. Union officials clarified that this donation aimed to ensure that elected officials from both political parties listen to the voices of rank-and-file workers during the upcoming presidential nominating conventions. It is worth noting that the union’s PAC had previously made a similar contribution to the Democratic National Committee in December.
This donation to the RNC stands out as a departure from the Teamsters union's traditional political funding approach, which, under previous leadership, predominantly supported Democrats. Notably, the union endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election and Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
