In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris’s interactions with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters reportedly strained relations with the influential labor union.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien recounted an incident where Harris, during a meeting with local union leadership, urged the union to endorse the Biden-Harris ticket.
According to O’Brien, Harris told Teamsters Vice President Joan Corey, “You better get on board. Better get on board soon.”
O’Brien expressed his disapproval of Harris’s approach, stating, “If I want support from any organization, I am not gonna point my finger in someone’s face and say, ‘You better get on board or else.’”
Subsequently, during a roundtable meeting with the Teamsters, Harris reportedly addressed only a fraction of the union’s questions before departing early, stating, “I’m going to win with you or without you.”
This interaction contributed to the Teamsters’ decision to withhold their endorsement in the 2024 election, marking the first time in nearly 30 years that the union did not endorse a Democratic candidate.
O’Brien criticized Harris’s approach, suggesting it reflected a broader attitude within the party.
The lack of endorsement from the Teamsters, coupled with similar decisions from other labor organizations, highlighted challenges Harris faced in securing support from key labor constituencies during her campaign.
NEW: Teamsters president says Kamala Harris could only answer 3 of their 16 questions before arrogantly saying she was going to win “with or without you.”
Worst candidate in history.
Sean O’Brien says Harris waved her finger in their faces before the incident.
“There’s 16… pic.twitter.com/tDKu8EQnOo
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 24, 2024