President Biden to Meet with Teamsters as Union Weighs Endorsement Strategy

President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with members of the influential union, Teamsters, on March 12. This meeting follows the recent interview of former President Donald Trump by the union as they deliberate on their endorsement strategy for the upcoming elections.

Union's Appreciation for President Biden's Time

Sean O’Brien, the general president of the Teamsters, expressed the union's gratitude for President Biden making it a priority to meet with them. He stated, “We realize that President Biden’s time is limited and we appreciate that he is making it a priority to meet with Teamsters.” O’Brien further emphasized the eagerness of the union's rank-and-file members and leadership to engage in a conversation about the future of the country and the commitments that working people need from the next President.

Historical Alignment and Open Evaluation Process

The Teamsters have historically been aligned with the Democratic party. However, a significant portion of its membership leans towards the Republicans. The union has pledged to conduct an open process in evaluating presidential candidates for the upcoming cycle.

Engagements with Different Candidates

Aside from the former president, the Teamsters have also engaged in discussions with several independent candidates and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who is running a longshot primary challenge to Biden.

Shift in Contribution Pattern

According to the Washington Post, the Teamsters recently made a $45,000 contribution to the Republican National Committee, marking a noticeable departure from their past practices. Nonetheless, this amount is less than a third of what they have contributed to the Democratic National Committee in recent months.

Political Differences and Trump's Appeal

Following their meeting on Jan. 31, Trump and O’Brien expressed political differences on immigration policy, which is a foundational plank of the former president’s agenda. Despite this, Trump continues to advocate for the union’s support, stating on Truth Social in mid-February that the union “should go with Trump” over Biden. He further added, “I will stop Illegal Immigration, which will Save the Teamsters.”