O’Brien, who met with Trump twice this month to debate organized labor, disagreed. He stated he doesn’t assist a shutdown of the border, including “we’re all merchandise of immigration.”
The previous president and head of the Teamsters laid out their variations on immigration in separate press conferences that happened after Trump was interviewed for about one hour by the Teamsters board and rank-and-file members.
Trump was invited to talk to the group because it considers who to endorse within the 2024 presidential race. The Teamsters have backed the Democratic candidate for president over Trump every time he has run earlier than.
President Joe Biden has confirmed that he plans to fulfill with the Teamsters to be interviewed for a possible endorsement however no date has been set but.
Trump spoke to reporters for about 20 minutes within the foyer of the Teamsters’ headquarters in Washington, D.C., adopted by about 10 minutes from O’Brien.
“The Teamsters union helps immigrant staff as a result of all of us come from those who got here from completely different nations,” O’Brien stated when he addressed reporters after Trump, flanked by a UPS employee, American Purple Cross phlebotomist and Teamsters Native member.
Congress is at the moment negotiating an immigration invoice partly centered on the variety of entries on the southern border, which Trump criticized as “insane.” He added {that a} border invoice ought to solely be executed if “we get an awesome invoice.” Trump has
urged Republican congress members to dam the invoice.
“So we simply had a gathering with the Teamsters, and one of many largest issues they’ve is tens of millions of individuals are pouring into the nation. And that’s a killer for the Teamsters. And I’m gonna cease it,” Trump stated. “And that’s why the Teamsters, I feel, assist me. Now, I don’t know if the highest individuals will assist me — we’re gonna have to search out that out — however inside the union itself, I’ve great assist.”
The Teamsters haven’t but executed polling on who their rank-and-file members assist, however O’Brien stated it could conduct that survey and the opinions of the rank and file will issue into the union’s “endorsement or non-endorsement.”
Trump stated even getting the interview for a possible endorsement was a win. The Teamsters haven’t executed an endorsement interview course of with candidates from each events or independents earlier than.
Former Gov. Nikki Haley, Trump’s final opponent within the GOP main, has not met with the Teamsters and
criticized Trump Wednesday morning for assembly with the group, which opposes a number of historically conservative coverage positions like right-to-work.
Impartial presidential candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West each sat for interviews in December.
“On the finish of the day, we nonetheless have some extra questions that have to be requested to each candidates,” O’Brien stated, referring to Trump and Biden.
“President Biden has executed plenty of good work for union members,” O’Brien stated. “However like I’ve said earlier than, what you’ve executed previously doesn’t assure a future with us. We wish to know what you’re gonna do for our members shifting ahead.”
