Donald Trump melts down after losing endorsement
Earning an endorsement from an influential organization is something every presidential candidate seeks. Although individual members can of course proceed as they wish, an organization’s endorsement is a vote of confidence that can, and often does, sway many people—particularly members who would otherwise be undecided.
Even before Vice President Kamala Harris tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, key organizations have endorsed her ticket. The question of which of the two major candidates to endorse is often difficult because each person may offer a credible case for an effective presidency as viewed through an organization’s lens.
However, when you have a candidate as impressive as Harris vying against the depraved, phony Donald Trump, the decision of which candidate to endorse can become a no-brainer. The recent endorsements of Harris by the United Auto Workers (UAW) and UNITE HERE, the hospitality workers’ union, are two cases in point.
Endorsing Harris last week, UAW President Shawn Fain explained that they “can put a billionaire back in office who stands against everything” or “elect Kamala Harris who will stand shoulder to shoulder with us in our war on corporate greed.” The UAW later released a video calling Trump a “scab” who wants to help “him and his buddies get even richer,” while Harris has “walked a picket line” and is “on our side.”
Trump’s reaction was to call Fain “a stupid person” and insist that UAW members will vote for him regardless. Apparently, Fain isn’t buying Trump’s proposal of imposing a 100% tariff on imported cars, which economists have warned would raise product costs for Americans, according to a report from The Guardian. On the contrary, while wearing a UAW-branded shirt that reads “Kamala Harris for President,” Fain told a crowd on Wednesday that “Donald Trump doesn’t know shit about the auto industry!”
UNITE HERE is similarly not buying Trump’s snake oil. In June, Trump tried to gain hospitality workers’ support by promising he would end taxes on tips. The fine print is that Trump would only be able to ask Congress to pass a law and such a law could only apply to federal taxation on tips, as a Trump campaign official later clarified, according to a report from MarketWatch.
Instead of rushing to support Trump, UNITE HERE endorsed Harris this week. In a press release, UNITE HERE noted that Harris “has consistently demonstrated her unwavering commitment to working people and the labor movement.” Harris’s recent accomplishments as Vice President, including saving the pensions of a million union members and retirees, stand in stark contrast with Trump’s “disastrous leadership.”
Harris’s authenticity, backed by a proven track record, makes her eminently more qualified than Trump. Unions and other organizations are showing signs that they’re not afraid to distance themselves from Trump and his false promises. With the election just a few months away, the ingredients of a blue wave are quickly coming together.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month