Page 49 of 107 Days

I walked into the International Brotherhood of Teamsters roundtable in Washington, DC, knowing I wasn’t going to receive its endorsement.

Members were angry that Biden had signed a bill blocking a nationwide rail strike that would have devastated the economy and cost thousands of workers their paychecks. I knew very well that my candidacy wasn’t likely to swing the needle in our favor, despite my lifelong support for the union cause.

Sean O’Brien, the union president, had spoken at the Republican National Convention. He’d asked for a speaking slot at ours as well, but why would I put someone on my stage who hadn’t supported me? I’m not about to be punked. If you’re flirting with my opponent, have at it.

I walked in there determined to speak the truth. I was not going to let them do what they were about to do without giving them a jolt to their conscience. I would make them weigh, in their own hearts and minds, the decision they were going to announce.

I laid out, chapter and verse, what unions would get from a Trump administration.

I went down the list of Donald Trump’s anti-union actions—and it’s a very long list—from the beginning of his real estate career screwing over workers and busting unions, to his recent conversation with Elon Musk where he said it was okay to fire workers exercising their legal right to strike.

I contrasted this with the equally long list of pro-labor stands that had marked my entire career.

“You know what I have done. You know who is going to be better for labor. If your endorsement is based on that, it is obvious you should endorse me.”

I paused and looked directly at those longtime union guys.

“Regardless of whether you do or not, I will still be president for all your members.”

I knew I had significant support in the rank and file of the union, and even some support in that room. And while the general executive board of the Teamsters elected to make no endorsement, many Teamsters locals wound up endorsing me. Before I left, I shook every hand.

From the look in their eyes, I could see that the majority knew exactly what I was saying. I’d spoken the truth, and they’d heard it.