What’s New
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien on Monday called out Vice President Kamala Harris on The Tucker Carlson Show, saying that she told union leadership she would “win with you or without you” and left their meeting early during her 2024 presidential campaign.
O’Brien told Carlson during the podcast that after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July, Harris met with one of the union’s executive board members at an event where she reportedly made the remarks.
Newsweek contacted a spokesperson for Harris via email on Monday for comment.
Teamsters union president says Kamala Harris told him, “I’m gonna win, with you or without you.” pic.twitter.com/0Ajt4TrOTm
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) December 24, 2024
His criticisms follow the Teamsters’ historic decision in September not to endorse any presidential candidate for the first time since 1996, and internal polls showing strong rank-and-file support for President-elect Donald Trump.
Why It Matters
O’Brien’s account exposes growing tensions between labor leadership and the Democratic Party, traditionally a reliable alliance.
The Teamsters’ decision to withhold their 1.3 million-member endorsement reflects shifting working-class allegiances, further evidenced by Trump’s nomination of Oregon U.S. Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer—a Republican who has successfully attracted union support despite her party’s traditionally pro-business stance—to lead the Department of Labor. DeRemer lost her reelection bid for the House last month.
What To Know
O’Brien detailed how Harris reportedly cut short her union roundtable, taking only three of 16 planned questions before departing 20 minutes early.
His account described Harris telling a board member, “Teamsters? You better get on board. Better get on board soon,” before the meeting.
In contrast to Harris’ limited engagement, Trump held a news conference in the union building’s lobby following his meeting.
Internal Teamsters polling showed the membership’s preferences: 59.6 percent of members favored Trump in electronic voting and 58 percent in phone polling, with Harris receiving 31 percent in both surveys. Neither candidate secured crucial union commitments on key issues like the Railway Labor Act and “right to work” legislation.
What People Are Saying
O’Brien, while sharing his account with Carlson on his podcast: “Who does this f****** lady think she is? If I want support from any organization, I am not gonna point my finger in someone’s face and say, ‘You better get on board or else.’”
Fred Zuckerman, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer: “‘Right to work’ laws only exist to try to kill labor unions. It is a red line for the Teamsters and must be for any union when a candidate for elected office does not oppose such anti-worker legislation.”
What Happens Next
If confirmed, Chavez-DeRemer will oversee a Labor Department responsible for critical workplace policies, including wages, health and safety regulations, unionization rights and employer-employee relations.
The department’s direction may shift significantly under Trump’s administration, which includes officials from the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” suggesting potential changes to Biden-era pro-union policies.
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