AOC Embarrasses Teamsters Chief After He Refuses to Endorse Harris
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien isn’t happy that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the union for refusing to endorse Kamala Harris for president. On Thursday, in response to her comments, he made the spurious claim that the Teamsters in AOC’s district overwhelmingly support Donald Trump.
Speaking to CNN’s Dana Bash, O’Brien said, “[Ocasio-Cortez] should maybe get into her district, where it voted far-right Republican, and maybe find out what the problem is.”
Bash asked the union president what he meant, to which O’Brien responded, “In our polling, New York, her district, voted overwhelmingly Republican to support former President Trump, so she may want to focus on her job instead of mine.”
.@Teamsters President Sean O'Brien reacts to @AOC attacking Teamsters for refusing to endorse Kamala: She should maybe get into her district — where Teamsters in her district voted overwhelmingly to support President Trump.
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 19, 2024
So, she may want to focus on her job instead of mine. pic.twitter.com/5jTNukaE7i
While that sound bite was highlighted by the Trump campaign on X (formerly Twitter), O’Brien’s statement was quickly disproven by the fact that Teamsters Local 202 in New York’s 14th District in the Bronx endorsed Ocasio-Cortez Thursday, which the congresswoman was happy to post on X herself.
The NY-14 Teamsters mentioned here have actually voted overwhelmingly to endorse Harris-Walz.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 19, 2024
Just as Teamsters in Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania have, too.
It’s a big thing to be wrong about.
So let’s set the record straight: Teamsters Local 202 are all in for Harris.???????????? https://t.co/ZYizRdGwIL pic.twitter.com/UBaoPyUrNm
O’Brien’s decision to withhold a presidential endorsement has been met with disapproval from Teamsters local chapters across the country, with several in key battleground states subsequently endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket. After the Teamsters president spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, rank-and-file members spoke from the Democratic National Convention stage to voice their support for Harris. The union’s National Black Caucus also voted unanimously to endorse the vice president.
O’Brien signaled a possible endorsement for Harris after he criticized Donald Trump last month, calling the convicted felon’s remarks to Elon Musk about firing workers for striking and organizing “economic terrorism.” In the end, the Teamsters president has been left embarrassed not only by organized labor’s traditional allies in the Democratic Party but also by his own members.