President of the Teamsters Union is scheduled to speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention, as former President Donald Trump aims to attract blue-collar workers away from President Joe Biden's camp. The move is seen as an attempt to sway the support of these workers, who are expected to play a crucial role in swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the Teamsters Union president had accepted an invitation to speak at the RNC Convention in Milwaukee. This marks the first time a Teamsters president will address the GOP event.
Union members traditionally lean towards the Democratic Party, with 56% supporting Biden in the 2020 election. Trump has been actively trying to gain support from organized labor, particularly after losing ground to Biden in this demographic in the previous election.
During a visit to Michigan, Trump attempted to win over autoworkers by criticizing Biden's electric vehicle initiative during a strike. Despite his efforts, the United Auto Workers endorsed Biden, with the union president referring to Trump as a 'scab.'
The Teamsters president has engaged in discussions with Trump on various issues, including right-to-work laws. While the union typically supports Democrats, Trump has expressed optimism about the possibility of receiving their endorsement.
Biden, who has positioned himself as a pro-labor president, has already garnered significant support from organized labor, including early endorsements from the AFL-CIO. However, Trump is working to erode this support by presenting himself as pro-worker and highlighting potential divisions within union leadership.
The Teamsters union, representing 1.3 million workers across various sectors, backed Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020. The union is currently evaluating its options for the upcoming election cycle and is expected to make a formal endorsement after the summer nominating conventions.
