President Biden Makes Social Security a Key Pitch to Teamsters for 2024 Endorsement

On Tuesday, 12 March, President Joe Biden met with the Teamsters leadership to discuss various issues, particularly focusing on Social Security, in a closed-door meeting. This meeting could potentially influence the Teamsters' endorsement for the upcoming 2024 election.

Biden's Emphasis on Social Security

President Biden expressed fervent support for Social Security during the meeting, highlighting recent comments made by former President Donald Trump regarding entitlements. He did not mention Trump by name but indirectly referred to him as "the former president," according to John Palmer, the Teamsters vice president at-large who attended the meeting. Biden's passionate stance on Social Security was evident, with Palmer noting the President's use of a characteristic "Joe-ism," saying, "C'mon, man."

Union Endorsement Timing

While the Teamsters typically delay their presidential endorsement until after the party conventions, there are calls from within the union to back Biden sooner rather than later. Some members, including Palmer, believe that every day matters in conveying the stark differences between Biden and Trump to the union's membership.

Union's Evaluation Process

Spokesperson Kara Deniz explained that the union is currently following an evaluation process and conducting national polling of its membership. Additionally, they plan to engage with their 360 local union affiliates to hold townhalls and gather direct input from members across all states leading up to the 2024 race.

Trump's Previous Meeting and Union Endorsement

Former President Trump had previously met with the Teamsters leadership in January, expressing confidence in securing the union's endorsement. Despite this, the union had endorsed Biden in 2020 and backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

President Biden's Commitment

The Biden campaign emphasized the President's commitment to supporting workers and standing with labor, pointing to his pro-union record, including his visit to a striking autoworkers' picket line in Michigan in September. President Biden conveyed his dedication to continuing this support if elected to a second term.

Future Steps and Union Hopefuls

The Teamsters' spokesperson emphasized that they are following a specific process and are yet to announce the schedule for their endorsement. However, as the political landscape evolves, both the Biden campaign and the union aspire to secure each other's support and endorsement.