Shawn Fain, president of the United States Auto Workers (UAW), publicly condemned former President Donald Trump before his visit to Detroit. Fain expressed concern that Trump, a billionaire, does not understand the struggles of the working class. He explained that the union is focused on fighting economic policies that benefit the rich and hurt workers.
Despite this trend, Trump’s union rally is not guaranteed to be a success. He criticized Fain and urged union members to reject his leadership. Trump has also spoken out against the Biden administration’s push toward electric vehicles (EVs), which the union sees as a threat to its jobs. Fain has called for a “just transition” to electric vehicles, raising concerns that the switch could lead to job losses due to reduced labor demand.
Fain’s criticism is not limited to Trump. He was also critical of President Biden, even as he praised and criticized the president for his actions on auto worker concerns. The UAW traditionally supports Democratic presidential candidates, but Fain has not yet endorsed Biden, increasing pressure on the president as he faces low approval ratings.
Some Democratic politicians, like California Rep. Ro Khanna, have called on Biden and other party members to support striking auto workers by joining them on the picket lines. Khanna believes this would show that the Democratic Party is the party of the working class.
Overall, Fain’s denigration of Trump and his cautious approach to supporting Biden highlight the division within the union and the challenges that both former and current presidents face in winning support from the UAW.
