Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, delivered a scathing critique of the Democratic Party during an interview on comedian Theo Von’s podcast This Past Weekend. O’Brien, a self-identified Democrat, expressed his deep frustration with the party, accusing it of neglecting the interests of working people and unions for decades.
“I’m a Democrat,” O’Brien said, “but they have f***ed us over for the last 40 years.” His remarks reflect growing discontent among union members who feel abandoned by the party traditionally seen as their political ally.
O’Brien, who represents over 1.3 million union members, did not hold back. He questioned the Democratic Party’s commitment to labor rights, pointing out that the union has been left to fight alone for the interests of working-class Americans. “For once, we’re standing up as a union, probably the only one right now, saying, ‘What the f*** have you done for us?’” O’Brien remarked.
For the first time since 1988, the Teamsters union has announced it will not endorse a candidate for president in the 2024 election. This decision follows months of internal polling, which revealed growing dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party and its leadership. Between April and July, straw polls showed initial support for President Joe Biden among the Teamsters, but after his departure from the race, that support shifted.
Subsequent polls conducted by the union showed that Donald Trump was now favored among the membership. An electronic poll held between July 24 and September 25 found that 59.6% of Teamsters supported Trump, compared to just 34% for Vice President Kamala Harris. A similar phone survey conducted in mid-September reflected the same trend, with Trump receiving 58% support and Harris only 31%.
O’Brien’s public critique of the Democrats came amid this shift, highlighting the growing divide between the party and labor unions. His criticism has put him in the crosshairs of some within his own political circles, but he remains firm in his belief that Democrats have taken the support of unions for granted.
O’Brien’s frustration stems from what he sees as a failure of the Democratic Party to deliver on its promises to working-class Americans. “I’m getting attacked from the left, and we’ve given — since I’ve been in office, two and a half years — we’ve given the Democratic machine $15.7 million,” he said. In contrast, the union has only donated $340,000 to Republican candidates during the same period.
This lopsided support for Democrats, O’Brien argues, has not yielded results for the union. “People say the Democratic Party is the party of the working people. They’re bought and paid for by Big Tech,” he said. O’Brien went on to emphasize that a growing number of union members no longer see the Democrats as champions of their cause.
“If 60% of our members aren’t supporting [the Democrats], the f***ing system’s broken,” O’Brien said. “You need to fix it. Stop pointing fingers at Sean O’Brien. Stop pointing fingers at the Teamsters union. Look in the mirror.”
O’Brien’s remarks reflect a larger trend within the labor movement, where unions and working-class voters are increasingly questioning their traditional alliances. Once seen as a reliable voting bloc for the Democratic Party, many union members now feel that the party has shifted its focus away from labor issues in favor of corporate interests and progressive causes that don’t resonate with working-class voters.
This shift has opened the door for Republicans to make inroads with unions, particularly on issues related to trade, tariffs, and economic protectionism. O’Brien noted that Trump’s recent outreach to unions has resonated with many workers, particularly his choice of Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate. Vance, known for his support of tariffs and protectionist economic policies, has earned praise from union leaders like O’Brien.
“For the short time we’ve worked together, [Vance has] been great on Teamster issues,” O’Brien said. “He’s been right there on all our issues.”
O’Brien’s statements come as many political observers note a broader realignment taking place in American politics. Traditional party loyalties are shifting, with working-class voters and union members increasingly drawn to the Republican Party’s messaging on economic issues. This realignment was echoed by Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently commented on the changing political landscape.
“I think there’s been a bunch of realignments, of political realignments — about four or five throughout American history,” Kennedy said in an interview with Tucker Carlson. “I think we’re going through one right now.”
Kennedy suggested that the Democratic Party of the past, which once fought for the interests of labor and the working class, has transformed into an entity more closely associated with corporatism, military adventurism, and censorship. He argued that this shift has left many working-class voters feeling abandoned and alienated from the party they once supported.
As the 2024 election approaches, O’Brien’s critique of the Democratic Party highlights the deepening divisions within the labor movement. With the Teamsters refusing to endorse a candidate and a growing number of union members supporting Trump, it remains to be seen how this shift will affect the outcome of the election.
What is clear, however, is that the Democratic Party can no longer take union support for granted. As O’Brien and other labor leaders continue to speak out, the party will need to address the concerns of working-class Americans if it hopes to regain their trust and their votes.
