Congress’ solely profession firefighter will introduce Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, on the Worldwide Affiliation of Firefighters (IAFF) convention in Boston Thursday in an effort to induce members to help the Trump-Vance ticket, after they have been the primary labor union to endorse President Biden in 2020.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., grew to become a Metropolis of Miami firefighter in 1975 and rose to the rank of chief by the tip of his profession. He stated Thursday that, like his fellow first responders, former President Trump has proven he’s all the time able to “reply the decision.”
The IAFF has not thrown their help to both present presidential candidate but.
Gimenez stated whereas his essential position is to introduce Trump’s working mate, he’ll make temporary remarks on why his fellow firefighters ought to endorse the Republican nominee this time round.
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Rep. Carlos Gimenez poses on the IAFF conference in Boston, Massachusetts. (Workplace of Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla.)
“I felt it was essential sufficient to rise up at 3 a.m. to go to Boston and introduce Sen. Vance and discuss to them about why I believe President Trump and JD Vance are proper for not simply firefighters however for America.”
Gimenez mentioned Vice President Kamala Harris’ latest coverage proposals in a normal sense, and steered she has been pushing fixes to issues the Biden-Harris administration themselves exacerbated.
“My pitch goes to be, , the place firefighters are all the time prepared to reply the decision or they reply the bell – Proper now America is, is asking for assist, and we should always reply,” Gimenez stated.
“And America is asking for assist due to the catastrophe that is been the Biden-Harris administration and… a few of the issues which have occurred over the past three and a half years… that Kamala Harris particularly needs us to neglect that they have been in command of.”
“Someway they’re now going to repair it or she’s going to repair it… It’s like having the arsonist inform you methods to put out the fireplace.”
Gimenez stated that whereas he has held different roles all through his life – commissioner, mayor of Miami-Dade County, congressman – when he’s requested what his job was, he routinely replies, “firefighter.”
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Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a former Metropolis of Miami hearth chief, in uniform. (Workplace of Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla.)
“I used to be the youngest one and the primary Hispanic chief – I used to be very lucky to be a firefighter and it’s additionally formed the way in which I see issues and the way I cope with issues.”
Gimenez stated that when “firefighters do properly, America does properly,” and that as a “first responder,” they perceive urgency in key conditions.
As for whether or not the IAFF could also be primed to make a 180 and endorse Trump, Gimenez stated the union tends to comply with its affiliate within the AFL-CIO, which usually endorses Democrats.
“Ever since I’ve been a firefighter, they have a tendency to go Democrat. Hopefully, we will break the pattern right this moment.”
Gimenez expressed hope in that regard, given they didn’t swiftly endorse Harris as they’d for Biden in 2020.
“It’s not a slam dunk for Democrats this time round,” Gimenez stated of some union endorsements, regardless of Biden self-identifying as essentially the most “pro-union” president in historical past.
Notably, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien grew to become the primary such official to talk on the Republican Nationwide Conference, however was reportedly not invited to talk to the Democratic Nationwide Conference this yr.
Unions apart, Gimenez stated firefighters don’t care about political affiliation whereas on-the-job.
“Each time the bell rings, we get on the truck or we get on the rescue [vehicle] and we reply the decision. We’re going to assist – that’s what’s nice about [firefighters].”
Fox Information Digital reached out to the Harris marketing campaign and IAFF for remark.
