Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien delivered a historic address to the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Monday evening after being invited by former President Donald Trump. The speech marked the first time in the 121-year history of the union that one of its leaders addressed the RNC.
O’Brien expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating that he was proud to be a part of an event that opened doors for the Teamsters Union. He acknowledged the controversy surrounding his invitation, with critics from both the Left and Right demanding that President Trump rescind it. However, O’Brien emphasized the importance of new, loud, and critical voices in politics, praising Trump for not being afraid to hear them.
During his speech, O’Brien highlighted Trump’s resilience following an assassination attempt at a rally in western Pennsylvania, calling him “one tough S.O.B.” The Teamsters President also left the door open for a potential endorsement of Trump after receiving input from union members and considering other candidates after the Democrat National Convention (DNC.
In his address, O’Brien criticized the United States Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtables, accusing them of waging war on American workers. He argued that only through democratic unions can workers achieve better wages, benefits, and working conditions, pointing to the successful unionization of companies like UPS as an example.
O’Brien also called for economic reforms, such as meaningful bankruptcy reform and labor law reform. He urged Republicans to support these changes in order to protect American workers from corporate exploitation and “economic terrorism.