Biden, Trump in dueling US auto strike trips

Biden, Trump in dueling US auto strike trips

Biden spoke about the autoworkers strike at the White House on September 15
Biden spoke about the autoworkers strike at the White House on September 15. Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Have you recorded a funny video or filmed the moment of fame, cool dance, or something bizarre? Inbox your personal video on our Facebook page!

US President Joe Biden will join the picket line with striking auto workers on a historic trip to Michigan Tuesday, putting him on a collision course with likely 2024 election rival Donald Trump who visits a day later.

Democrat Biden, 80, is believed to be the first sitting president to walk the picket and says he wants to show solidarity with workers who have walked out on Detroit's "Big Three" carmakers.

Republican Trump had previously announced a visit to Michigan on Wednesday, and their dueling trips have ensured that a strike that already threatened major economic disruption will now become a political battleground.

For Biden, battling increasingly dismal poll ratings and struggling to get his message on the economy across to voters, the trip is a golden opportunity to woo blue-collar workers.

Read also

Time ticking on US deadline to avert shutdown

"This is going to be a historic trip," White house Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing on Monday, adding that it would "underscore that the president is the most the most pro-union president in history."

She insisted Biden's visit to the picket line in Wayne County, Michigan, was "absolutely not" influenced by Trump's planned trip to the state the following day.

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!

'Cheap photo op'

Trump, who looks set for a rematch with Biden in November next year, has accused Biden of copying him by going to the frontline of the auto workers strike.

Biden "saw that I was going to Michigan this week (Wednesday!), so the Fascists in the White House just announced he would go there tomorrow," Trump said in a post on social media.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller said Biden's visit was "nothing more than a cheap photo op."

Read also

US auto workers union expands strike at General Motors, Stellantis

President Biden has said he is going to "stand in solidarity" with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union as they get a "fair share" of profits from the car firms -- Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.

But his visit is also fraught with political risk, as he must tread a fine line between backing the workers and trying to end a strike that is costing the economy billions of dollars.

At the same time, it would have been awkward for Biden to turn down the UAW's invitation on Friday for him to come.

The White House's Jean-Pierre deflected a barrage of questions about whether Biden was taking sides in the dispute, saying the president wanted a "win-win" agreement.

"What we're saying is we're not going to get into this when it comes to negotiation," she added.

Union support

Support for trade unions has been a hallmark of Biden's presidency, and the UAW's endorsement in 2020 helped him flip the state from Trump in the last election.

Read also

UK opposition leader denies he will try to undo Brexit

However, the Democrat is also the driving force behind government-funded efforts to spark a historic shift in the automobile industry to more environmentally friendly electric vehicles.

Trump has used Biden's green plans to batter his rival with accusations of selling out American jobs to China.

"When he slowly walks to pretend he is a 'picket,' remember he wants to take your jobs away and give them to China," Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social, in a message that was largely in capitals.

Trump's hopes of winning a second term in November 2024 largely rest on the same blue collar votes that he won in 2016 in battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

He will speak on Wednesday in front of a plant that makes car parts in Clinton Township, Michigan, his campaign said, some 40 miles (65 kilometers) on the other side of Detroit from where Biden is speaking.

Read also

UK's Sunak defends climate policy shift

Democrats however have called into question the multi-millionaire property tycoon's own commitment to the unions.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.