Ocasio-Cortez, Teamsters head spar over Trump-Harris support
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Teamsters President Sean O'Brien sparred following the union's decision to not endorse Vice President Harris or former President Trump in the presidential election.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters decided to not issue an endorsement for the election for the first time since 1996 and only the third time since 1960, The Hill reported Wednesday.
O’Brien told The Hill that his union didn’t back Harris or Trump “because both candidates didn’t commit on the core issues that we need to get accomplished on behalf of our members.”
In a CNN interview Thursday, anchor Dana Bash asked O'Brien about comments from Ocasio-Cortez in which she said labor organizations like the Teamsters rely on Democrats to achieve specific policies.
A video of Ocasio-Cortez talking to CNN's Manu Raju showed the congresswoman saying, "When the Teamsters are in trouble, who do they call?"
"It was Sean O'Brien calling Democrats for help," Ocasio-Cortez added.
She also posted on the social platform X yesterday and said that "Sean O’Brien has been boosting Republicans all year while supporting anti-worker, anti-choice Senate candidates."
In response, O'Brien told Bash that Ocasio-Cortez should focus on her district.
"She [Ocasio-Cortez] should maybe get into her district where it voted far-right Republican," O'Brien said in a CNN interview with Dana Bash that was posted Thursday by a pro-Trump X account.
Bash was quick to question what O'Brien meant by Ocasio-Cortez's district voting "far-right Republican," asking if he meant among Teamsters.
"In our polling, New York, her district, voted overwhelmingly Republican to support former President Trump," O'Brien said.
Bash noted that if his polling is accurate, it would mean that almost 60 percent of Teamsters members prefer Trump over Harris.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to the X post with a Thursday press release from her district's local Teamsters union showing that it endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket.
"The NY-14 Teamsters mentioned here have actually voted overwhelmingly to endorse Harris-Walz," she wrote in her response.
"So let’s set the record straight: Teamsters Local 202 are all in for Harris," she added in the post.
Other local unions in battleground states have endorsed Harris too. In Michigan, Teamsters Joint Council No. 43 supported the Democratic ticket.
“Michigan Teamsters President Kevin Moore and the Executive Board on behalf of 245,000 active and retired Teamsters enthusiastically endorse the Harris-Walz campaign,” Kevin Moore, president of the Michigan Teamsters Joint Council No. 43, said Wednesday in a Facebook post.
Another local union, Teamsters Joint Council 42, which represents 23 local chapters, also backed Harris.
“The 300,000 Teamsters who work across California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam are fundamental to the American economy, not only producing and transporting goods, but also providing essential services throughout the private and public sectors,” Joint Council 42 President Chris Griswold said in a post on the union's Facebook page. “They deserve a committed administration that will relentlessly advocate for their rights, ensure their safety, and prioritize the needs of working people.”
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
-
The Hill - Politics
Ocasio-Cortez condemns Israel over pager attacks in Lebanon
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday condemned Israel over a series of explosions across Lebanon involving pagers that targeted members of militant group Hezbollah. Ocasio-Cortez, a ...Yesterday - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Trump leads Harris in poll of Teamsters members
More than half of Teamsters members back former President Trump in the upcoming election over Vice President Harris, according to a poll of members as the group's leadership weighs an endorsement. ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
CNBC - Business
Teamsters union says it will not endorse Harris or Trump in 2024 presidential election
The major labor union said it would not endorse any candidate in the race between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.Yesterday - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Teamsters leader says Harris, Trump wouldn't 'commit'
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien told The Hill that the union did not endorse Vice President Harris or former President Trump “because both candidates didn't commit on the core issues that ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Financial Times - Business
Teamsters union declines to endorse Harris or Trump for president
Neither candidate is committed to putting workers before big business, says powerful unionYesterday - Donald Trump -
The New York Times - Top stories
Teamsters Won’t Endorse Trump or Harris in 2024 Presidential Election
The Teamsters president, Sean O’Brien, has shown an openness to former President Donald J. Trump, dividing the powerful union. Neither candidate will be the beneficiary of its considerable ...23 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Inc. - Business
Harris Meets With Teamsters, Seeking Endorsement
Leadership of the 1.3-million-member union has not backed a candidate for president yet, but met with Trump in January.2 days ago - Kamala Harris -
The New York Times - Top stories
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Tina Smith: Our Solution to the Housing Crisis
Instead of treating real estate as a commodity, we can underwrite the construction of millions of permanently affordable homes and apartments.Yesterday
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Watch live: Harris, Oprah hold virtual event in battleground Michigan
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey is slated to host a virtual event in Michigan Thursday evening to support Vice President Harris's bid for the White House in the battleground state. The free, livestreamed ...19 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
LinkedIn is using your data to train AI. Here's how to stop it
LinkedIn confirmed that it is using personal user data to train its artificial intelligence models after being accused of opting members in without properly notifying them.26 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
House Democrat hits GOP funding fight
Presented by Lockheed Martin — The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee called the Republicans’ stopgap funding fight “fanatic-on-fanatic violence,” calling out his colleagues for not ...31 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
Republicans shift to plan B to prevent shutdown
House Republicans have shifted gears as they race to avoid a government shutdown, eyeing a three-month stopgap spending bill — in lieu of a six-month extension — while dropping their demand for ...43 minutes ago - Republican Party -
The Hill - Politics
Robinson comments leave North Carolina Republicans reeling
An explosive report Thursday that North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson made many offensive statements on a porn site's message board has Republicans in the state reeling and ...46 minutes ago - Republican Party