Politics
UAW endorses Biden reelection, calls Trump a ‘scab’
By Jake Beardslee · January 24, 2024
In brief…
- UAW union endorsed President Biden's 2024 reelection campaign
- Endorsement came as Biden pivots to general election against Trump
- UAW endorsed Biden in 2020 but many members voted for Trump
- UAW president called Trump a "scab" who only represents the wealthy
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union endorsed President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection bid on Wednesday, providing an important boost for the president’s campaign. Biden accepted the endorsement while speaking at the UAW’s conference in Washington, saying he has kept his commitment to be the “most pro-union president ever.”
“I’m proud you have my back. Let me just say I’m honored to have your back, and you have mine,” Biden told the crowd. The endorsement comes as Biden pivots to the general election, citing former President Donald Trump’s victory in the New Hampshire GOP primary on Tuesday as a sign he will emerge as the Republican nominee.
Biden and the UAW leadership have long courted each other, but the endorsement may not sway all rank-and-file members to support Biden in November. The UAW also endorsed Biden in 2020, though many members voted for Trump.
Before announcing the endorsement, UAW President Shawn Fain said union members face a clear choice in 2024 between Biden and Trump, CNN reported. “It’s not about who you like. It’s not about your party…it’s not about anything, but our best shot at taking back power for the working class,” Fain said.
He then characterized Trump as a “scab” and a billionaire who only represents the wealthy elite. “Donald Trump is a scab. Donald Trump is a billionaire, and that’s who he represents,” Fain declared. “Donald Trump stands against everything we stand for as a union – as a society.”
The UAW represents over 400,000 active members across a wide range of industries. Biden will likely highlight the endorsement to appeal to working-class voters in key Rust Belt states like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Trump narrowly won those states in 2016 but lost them to Biden in 2020.