Trump Declares Union Autoworkers Are “Toast” if They Don’t Endorse Him

Cynthia PaulNov 26, 2023

Minute Read

One day before President Trump visited Detroit to address union workers, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain made fun of the previous president by claiming that he represents the interests of the “billionaire class.”

He Serves a Billionaire Class and That’s What’s Wrong This Country

“I see no point in meeting with him, because I don’t think the man has any bit of care about what our workers stand for, what the working class stands for,” stated Fain in response to a CNN question regarding the former president’s coming to Detroit. “What’s wrong with this country is that he serves the billionaire class,” Fain went on.

“Pathetic Irony” That Trump Will Hold a Rally at a Nonunion Plant

Trump is scheduled to visit Detroit on Wednesday, where he will hold meetings with both past and present union workers in the midst of their continuing walkout against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the “Big Three” manufacturers. According to reports, Trump will conduct a rally at a nonunion business in Macomb County, Michigan. Fain called this a “pathetic irony.”

All You Have to Do Is Look At His Track Record

Fain remarked, “You just need to look at his track record.” “His record is rather impressive. He falsely claimed that our contracts were to blame for all of these firms’ problems in 2008, during the height of the Great Recession.

Trump Would ”Make People Beg for Their Jobs Back at Lower Wages”

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Fain cited Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign remarks on shifting employment from the Midwest to the South, claiming that this would “make people beg for their jobs back at lower wages.”

Where Was Trump During GM Workers’ Strike?

“And the ultimate show of … how much he cares about our workers was in 2019, when he was the president of the United States,” Fain stated. “Where was he then? Our workers at [General Motors] were on strike for 60 days, for two months. They were out there on the picket lines; I didn’t see him hold a rally. I didn’t see him stand up at the picket line.”

Biden Joins the Picket Line With Union Autoworkers

As for President Biden, he became the first sitting president to walk the picket line on Tuesday alongside union autoworkers. Some perceived the action as a possible slight against Trump, who is anticipated to be his rival for the presidency in 2024.

Biden Administration’s Push for Electric Vehicles (EVs) Puts Autoworkers’ Jobs at Risk

Speaking with Fain, who has not yet endorsed Biden’s reelection campaign, the president addressed a gathering at a General Motors factory in Belleville, Michigan, expressing worries about the Biden administration’s drive for electric vehicles (EVs), which might endanger the jobs of autoworkers.

UAW Begins Its Historic Strike Against the Automakers

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Fain responded, “It’s not an endorsement for anyone, it’s just flat out how I view the former president,” when asked if his attacks at Trump suggest support for Biden. After prolonged discussions broke down and the employees’ contracts ran out, the UAW launched its historic walkout against the automakers about two weeks ago.

The Union’s List of Demands

Wage increases, cost-of-living pay increases, union representation at new battery plants, a 32-hour work week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional defined benefit pensions for newly hired employees who currently only receive 401(k)-style retirement plans, and pension increases for retirees are among the demands made by the union.

Team Trump’s Dismissive Response

“Political leadership of some of the labor unions and the working middle-class employees that they purport to represent,” a Trump official said in response to Fain’s remarks, brushing off the charges.

Crooked Joe Biden Is on the Side of Foreign Adversaries

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“He [Trump] has always been on the side of American workers and will do everything in his power to be their voice as Crooked Joe Biden is on the side of our foreign adversaries,” the spokesperson said, reiterating Trump’s commitment to defending American employment.

Fain’s Public Disapproval Ruins Trump’s Plans

Although Trump’s staff acknowledged that the purpose of the rally was to interact with union workers and protect American employment, Trump’s goals have been thwarted by Fain’s public criticism of the event.

Trump Irate ”Crooked Joe” Is Copying Moves

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Trump and Biden both made calculated appearances in Michigan during the UAW strike against the manufacturers. Trump asserted, “Crooked Joe Biden had no intention of going to visit the United Autoworkers until I announced that I would be heading to Michigan to be with them and help them out.”

Trump Declares Union Autoworkers Are “Toast”

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Trump accused Biden of “selling autoworkers down the river” by promoting a “hoax about electric cars” on Truth Social. Because the state may swing the election significantly, Trump pleaded with the UAW to support him, calling autoworkers “toast” if they don’t.

UAW Focused On Getting a Great Agreement

“Our focus right now is 100% on getting a great agreement for our members,” stated Fain, speaking on behalf of the UAW, withholding the organization’s endorsement for the 2024 presidential contest.

There’s Still Work to Be Done

The union’s cautious stance was primarily motivated by worries over the car industry’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs). “There’s still work to be done. Endorsements and things like that, we’ll do those things at the appropriate time.”

Drake Enterprises Chosen as the Rally Location

The nonunion company Drake Enterprises was chosen as the rally site in an attempt to mimic the former president’s 2016 campaign approach that focused on blue-collar workers.

DNC Unveils Billboard Slamming Trump Policies and Positions

The DNC has unveiled a billboard campaign criticizing Trump’s ideas and policies, claiming they have failed the auto sector and its workers, all around the Detroit metro region.