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In recent months, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien has provoked Democrats and playfully challenged Republicans.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the most significant labor unions in the United States, has opted not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 1996. With approximately 1.3 million members in the United States and Canada, the union stated that it had received "few commitments on top Teamsters issues" from either Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Republican nominee Donald Trump. Furthermore, the union reported that surveys conducted among its members revealed "no definitive support" for either candidate, although two recent polls showed a substantial preference for Trump. This decision represents a considerable setback for the Harris campaign as it seeks to appeal to working-class voters with less than 50 days remaining before the election.
The rank-and-file of the union, comprising a diverse coalition of freight drivers, warehouse personnel, and airline pilots, has long been recognized for its political variety. Since assuming leadership of the executive board in 2022, General President Sean O'Brien has actively sought to establish connections with Republican figures. He has engaged with more populist members of the party, including U.S. Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and J.D. Vance of Ohio, who is currently aligned with Trump. In January, Mr. O'Brien held a private meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, shortly before the former president participated in a roundtable discussion with the union's board at its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Following this encounter, Trump expressed confidence in his chances of securing the union's endorsement. The board also convened with President Joe Biden prior to his withdrawal as the Democratic nominee, as well as with third-party candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West. However, the union surprised Democrats by making its first financial contribution to their rivals in years, donating $45,000— the maximum permissible amount— to both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in February. Notably, Mr. O'Brien became the first leader of the Teamsters to address the Republican National Convention (RNC). During a prime-time speech in Milwaukee, he commended Trump as "one tough SOB" but refrained from endorsing him. Subsequently, he criticized Trump and prominent campaign supporter Elon Musk for their remarks regarding the dismissal of workers who threaten to strike. Following his participation in the RNC, Mr. O'Brien did not receive an invitation from the Democrats to speak at their convention last month, which instead featured rank-and-file members representing the organization. Some Teamsters have voiced their discontent with Mr. O'Brien's outreach to right-wing figures. Recently, the Teamsters National Black Caucus and six local unions took a stand against his approach.