Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien reveals why the union decided not to allow former President Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris on ‘Your World.’
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters on Wednesday announced it would not endorse a presidential candidate, despite releasing an internal poll showing a majority of union members supporting former President Trump.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O’Brien speaks on stage during the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Conference in Milwaukee on July 15. (Getty Images)
Before the announcement, the Teamsters posted the results of its election to the people of 2024. It showed that in an online survey, the members of the union favor Trump by 59.6% more than the vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who received 34 %. In the telephone poll, the Teamsters favored Trump over Harris, 58% to 31%.
Trump’s support among the Teamsters has increased since Harris replaced President Biden at the top of the Democratic Party ticket, reports show. A poll of the organization before Biden stepped down showed Biden ahead of Trump among members, 44.3% to 36.3%.
Explaining the reason for not endorsing the 2024 presidential candidate on Wednesday, the organization said in a statement, “A broad survey of the organization’s membership does not show overwhelming support for Vice President Harris and no general support among members of President Trump.”
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The Teamsters’ decision not to endorse a candidate is a departure from its protocol. The powerful union, which represents about 1.3 million workers in the US and Canada, has endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992. The last time the union endorsed a Republican was in 1988.
The Teamsters also became the only union among the top 10 to not support Harris as he faces Trump in the race to succeed Biden.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris wave to the crowd during a campaign rally for IBEW Local Union #5 in Pittsburgh on September 2. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Trump campaign was quick to highlight the vote by members of the Teamster ranks.
“President Donald Trump’s Support Staff” was the headline of a release from the former president’s campaign.
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And Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt argued in a statement that “the hardworking members of the Teamsters have had a clear voice – they want President Trump back in the White House! These working men and women They are firmly the backbone of America and President Trump will strongly represent them when he returns to the White House.”
Former President Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Tucson, Arizona, on Thursday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty)
The Harris campaign fired back with its own response.
“While Donald Trump has said striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has walked the ballot line and stood firm for organized labor for his entire career,” a campaign spokesperson said. Harris Lauren Hitt told FOX News Digital in a statement. “The Vice President’s strong organizational record is why Teamsters across the country have embraced him — along with the vast majority of organized labor.”
O’Brien made history in July when he became the first Teamsters president to speak to Republican National Convention.
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But his speech also sparked controversy, as he angered some top Teamsters leaders and some rank-and-file members. Democrats did not invite O’Brien to speak at their convention last month in Chicago.
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