‘Stranger Things Have Happened’: Trump Aims for Teamsters Union Endorsement

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump meets with leaders and members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at their headquarters in Washington on Jan. 31, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump met with members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union on Wednesday to seek their endorsement for the presidency.

After the meeting, President Trump said it was productive and that General President Sean M. O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman are “terrific people” and “great leaders.”

“Stranger things have happened. Usually, a Republican wouldn’t get that endorsement,” Mr. Trump said of his prospects of getting an endorsement.

“For many, many years, they only do Democrats. But in my case, it is different because I’ve employed thousands of Teamsters, and I thought we should come over and pay our respects.”

Mr. Trump said a big part of the Teamsters’ voting bloc votes for him.

Mr. O’Brien said after the meeting there are a lot of boxes that need to be checked, and the union has a long way to go before deciding who to endorse.

President Joe Biden has committed to meeting with the Teamsters but has not set a date.

The union had invited all presidential candidates to participate in similar meetings and, in December, hosted discussions with five candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Asa Hutchinson, Marianne Williamson, Cornel West, and Dean Phillips.

Nikki Haley has not responded to the invitation.

“It’s not surprising ... She stated publicly that she doesn’t support unions at all,” Mr. O’Brien said.

“She said the reason why Boeing chose to go to South Carolina is because there wasn’t a strong union presence, and she supports that.”

1.3 Million Workers

Candidates want the union’s endorsement and, with it, the favor of its 1.3 million workers.

The Teamsters represent UPS drivers, American Red Cross technicians, film and television workers, freight operators, law enforcement, and public employees.

“Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as President,” Mr. O’Brien said in a statement.

“Teamsters are essential to every trade industry in this country. Our members are working in all 50 states and represent every political background, including no affiliation.”

Last week, the United Auto Workers union endorsed President Joe Biden. The Teamsters Union has not issued an endorsement in the 2024 race yet. It usually endorses Democratic candidates, including President Biden in 2020. But that does not mean he automatically gets the nod from the union again. Some members support Mr. Trump.

President Biden has supported many issues important to the Teamsters, “But … what you’ve done in the past doesn’t guarantee the future with us. We want to know what you’re going to do for our members moving forward. You’re going to support our issues, and in a time of need, you’re going to step up and do what’s right by the working people in this country,” Mr. O’Brien said.

Most years, the Teamsters wait until after the national parties hold their conventions before making the endorsement, but it could come sooner, he said. They have not decided on timing yet.

Immigration Conversation

Some of the discussions with President Trump centered on the southern border. Mr. O’Brien said President Trump strongly opposes “what’s going on at the borders.

“We are all products of immigration. And the Teamsters Union supports immigrant workers,” Mr. O’Brien said.

“There is an opinion that there’s a lot of criminals coming across the border, a lot of crime being committed, a lot of countries releasing prisoners. We don’t know if that is factual or not, but that’s some of the due diligence we’re going to check on as a result of the meeting today.”

International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien (L) and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman listen to Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting at the union's headquarters in Washington on Jan. 31, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mr. O’Brien stressed again that President Biden “has been great for unions.

“But again, sometimes dialogue helps formulate differences of opinions that will be favorable to unions and positions moving forward. Again, we’re not looking at what happened in the past. We’re looking at what’s going to happen in the future.”

President Trump told the press they talked about returning jobs to the United States.

“We were doing that under the Trump administration at a level like nobody had ever seen,” President Trump said.

“We saved the steel industry. Now U.S. Steel is being bought by [Nippon Steel of Japan.] So terrible. We want to bring jobs back to the country, and sometimes tariffs can do that.”

He also vowed to see more products manufactured in the United States.