Only a “handful” of striking autoworkers were in attendance for former President Donald Trump’s Wednesday speech in Michigan aimed at courting blue-collar, union laborers, according to reports.
Trump, 77, pleaded with members of the United Auto Workers union to urge their leaders to endorse his 2024 presidential campaign during his primetime speech at Drake Enterprises — an auto parts manufacturer outside of Detroit that boasts Ford and General Motors among its clientele.
However, the 150-employee operation is a nonunion facility, with none of its workforce represented by the UAW, according to the Detroit News.
One person in the crowd of between 400 and 500 spectators for the former president’s speech held a sign that read, “Union Members for Trump,” while another person waved one that read, “Auto Workers for Trump” – but neither was a union member or autoworker, according to the outlet.
“Hardly any striking workers were on hand.” NBC News reported Wednesday.
“There are a few strikers here, yes,” Brian Pannebecker, a former autoworker who runs the Auto Workers for Trump Facebook page, told the outlet. “I don’t know where they’re at. But there are several — a handful.”
Scott Malefant, who told NBC he was one of the few UAW members on the picket line in attendance, noted, “I haven’t seen anybody yet,” when asked about others in the crowd.
“I’m sure there might be a few,” he surmised.
Union brass were unimpressed with the 45th president’s choice of venue.
“I find it odd he’s gonna go to a non-union business to talk to union workers,” UAW President Shawn Fain said ahead of Trump’s visit. “I don’t think he gets it.”
UAW Vice President for General Motors Mike Booth told the Detroit Free Press that the Michigan trip made Trump appear “pompous.”
“Coming to Michigan to speak at a nonunion employer and pretending it has anything to do with our fight at the Big Three is just more verbal diarrhea from the former president,” Booth told the outlet in an email.
“Where were his rallies for striking workers when we were on the picket line in 2019? Where are the jobs he promised to return to the US while on the campaign trail in 2015?” Booth added, deriding Trump’s speech as a “stunt.”
Democratic strategist Rich Luchette echoed the criticism of Trump’s campaign event leveled by the very same leadership that he had hoped to woo.
“From a general election standpoint, Trump’s speech at a nonunion shop is a mistake,” Luchette told NBC News. “It will no doubt remind voters of Trump’s abysmal record on labor issues. Trump packed the National Labor Relations Board with anti-union appointees. Trump failed to bring back auto manufacturing jobs.”
Former Clinton administration Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said Wednesday that the fact that the “‘pro-worker’ event is being held at a non-union auto parts supplier” shouldn’t be ignored.
“Trump can claim he’s an advocate for blue-collar workers until he’s blue in the face. But he may be one of the most anti-worker presidents in American history. Know the truth,” Reich tweeted.
Trump, who skipped the second Republican primary debate and counterprogrammed it with his speech at Drake Enterprises, touted his track record of protecting American workers and jobs and outlined his “vision for a revival of economic nationalism and our automobile manufacturing lifeblood” during the rally.
“To the striking workers, I support you and your goal of fair wages and greater stability, and I truly hope you get a fair deal for yourselves and your families,” Trump said. “But if your union leaders will not demand that Crooked Joe repeal his electric vehicle mandate immediately, then it doesn’t matter what hourly wage you get.”
“It just doesn’t make a damn bit of difference,” he added, “because in two to three years, you will not have one job in this state.”