In a surprising move that has sent shockwaves through the American labor movement, International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien has accepted an invitation from former President Donald J. Trump to speak at the Republican National Convention (RNC) next month in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
This unprecedented decision marks the first time in history that a Teamsters leader will address the GOP’s quadrennial gathering, signaling a significant shift in the union’s political alliances and priorities.
O’Brien, who assumed the presidency of the Teamsters in March 2022, has been vocal about his desire to engage with leaders from both major political parties to ensure that the interests of the union’s 1.3 million members are well-represented.
In a statement released by the Teamsters, O’Brien expressed his gratitude for the invitation and emphasized the importance of working with elected officials from both sides of the aisle to advance the cause of American workers.
“This is truly unprecedented since it will be the very first time a Teamsters General President has addressed the RNC,” Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz said in a statement.
🚨 BREAKING: Teamsters President Sean O'Brien has accepted Donald Trump’s invitation to speak at the RNC Convention pic.twitter.com/3KVP0s0uVo
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 21, 2024
“Our 1.3 million members represent every political background, and their message needs to be heard by as wide an audience as possible, and that includes all political candidates running for elected office,” she continued.
“We appreciate former President Trump’s openness to inviting a labor leader to speak on behalf of working families,” she added.
Teamsters boss accepts Trump’s invitation to speak at RNC in Milwaukee as Biden loses union support https://t.co/g7yOUcwByd pic.twitter.com/zzqV4nsn8q
— New York Post (@nypost) June 21, 2024
Former President Trump, for his part, welcomed O’Brien’s participation in the convention, stating that the Teamsters leader’s presence would help to “unify Americans and demonstrate to the nation’s working families that they come first.”
The Trump campaign’s decision to invite O’Brien to speak at the RNC is seen by many as a strategic move to court the support of blue-collar workers, a demographic that played a crucial role in Trump’s 2016 victory.
🚨 @TeamsterSOB donated $45k to the RNC in the hopes of securing a speaking slot at the convention.
A new report shows that the @Teamsters spent $9 million on far-left groups and anti-Trump media campaigns from 2019-2022 –– 200x its donation to the RNC. https://t.co/EZNgqmtsIV pic.twitter.com/I3pCqfsmNT
— Tom Hebert (@TomHebertDC) June 20, 2024
The Teamsters’ decision to engage with the Republican Party has not been without controversy, however. Some members of the union have expressed concern that O’Brien’s participation in the RNC could be seen as an endorsement of the former president and his policies, which many see as detrimental to the interests of organized labor.
Despite these concerns, O’Brien remains steadfast in his belief that engaging with both political parties is essential for the Teamsters to effectively advocate for their members. “We must be willing to have tough conversations and find common ground if we are to make progress in the fight for workers’ rights,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien continued, “I look forward to the opportunity to address the Republican National Convention and to continue our work to build a better future for all American workers.”
