Vice President Kamala Harris has addressed Teamsters’ decision not to offer her their endorsement for the Presidential election. Speaking to MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle in a rare sit-down interview, Harris emphasized that she has the backing of most American unions but did not explain why Teamsters was not among them. She merely stated that she understands she has to earn people’s votes and then criticized what she believes is Donald Trump’s anti-union record.
This year, Teamsters declared that it would not back any White House candidate, with leader Sean O’Brien stating that neither had made “serious commitments” to the union or “to ensuring the interests of working people.” Mr. O’Brien nevertheless spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee over the summer and later told reporters that the union could not endorse Harris because so many of its members backed Trump.
Following the announcement that the national organization would not support the Vice President, some local chapters took their own initiative and declared their endorsement. Almost two dozen local Teamsters chapters formally endorsed Harris, including in battleground states Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
During her interview with Ruhle, Vice President Harris attacked Donald Trump’s tariff plans and said he believes this will solve America’s financial problems. Ms. Harris said Trump is not “serious” about the issues and throws around ideas. “One must be serious and have a real plan,” the Vice President declared, adding that politics is more than “some talking point ending in an exclamation at a political rally.”
Harris also voiced her opposition to the Japanese firm Nippon Steel’s acquisition of US Steel. The American company has warned that it may cut staff and move its headquarters from Pennsylvania if the deal collapses. Nippon Steel confirmed its intention to purchase US Steel last December, prompting an outcry from politicians, including President Biden and Donald Trump. At a recent rally in Pittsburgh, Harris said US Steel must remain American, and she repeated that assertion during her conversation with Ruhle.
Ms. Ruhle later told colleagues that she found the Vice President reasonable and pleasant but admitted that she doesn’t always answer the question she is asked. The MSNBC journalist does, however, continue to urge the American people to back Vice President Harris in November.
