UAW chief: Trump has ‘never supported working class people’
United Auto Workers (UAW) Shawn Fain slammed former President Trump on Friday, saying he's beholden to billionaires and has “never supported working class people.”
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Fain highlighted the union’s decision to endorse Vice President Harris and the pivotal role UAW has played in the presidential campaign over the last year.
“Trump has never supported working class people. He has never supported unions,” Fain said. “But he sure as hell was trying to pander for our votes now.”
Fain originally endorsed President Biden after the president joined striking UAW workers on the picket line last year.
After Biden suspended his campaign, UAW made the decision to back Harris. At a rally, Fain said if elected, Harris will continue delivering for working class Americans, while Trump will work for billionaires.
The UAW president has drawn the ire of Trump. During his speech at the Republican National Convention last month, Trump slammed Fain and called for him to be fired. The former president said UAW “ought to be ashamed” for allowing Fain to endorse the Democratic Party.
In a post online, the union said Trump is “a scab and a billionaire,” saying they are not on his side.
Fain dismissed Trump’s insult as typical behavior from the former president, the AP said.
“All the man does [is] name call, label people. He never has solutions,” Fain said. “That’s the problem in leadership. You need to find solutions.”
Fain told the news site that he’s confident Harris will remain an advocate for working people. She walked the picket line with General Motors striking workers in 2019 and was there with Biden “though a lot of things we’ve been through,” he said.
“She’s been there for labor,” he said, later adding, “I think she’s a brilliant woman. A very strong person.”
Harris, Fain argued, understands the issues.
“I think Trump’s just all talk. That’s all he’s ever been. He’s a showman,” he said.
The Hill has reached out to Trump’s campaign but in a statement to the AP, the campaign said Fain was a “puppet for the Democrat party.”
“Shawn Fain’s empty words don’t matter — President Trump will take action to fight for the American worker,” the statement said.
The Associated Press contributed.