Teamsters President To Address Republican National Convention

In a historic move, Sean O’Brien, the General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, will speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This will mark the first time a Teamsters General President has addressed the RNC.

Former President Donald Trump announced the news on Truth Social, expressing his excitement about O’Brien’s participation. “Sean O’Brien, the General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has accepted my invitation to speak at the RNC Convention in Milwaukee. Our GREAT convention will unify Americans and demonstrate to the nation’s working families they come first,” Trump stated.

Trump further emphasized his commitment to American workers, stating, “When I am back in the White House, the hardworking Teamsters, and all working Americans, will once again have a country they can afford to live in and be respected around the world. Sean, I look forward to seeing you represent the Teamsters in Milwaukee. Together we can Make America Great Again.”

Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz highlighted the significance of this event, noting, “This will be the very first time a Teamsters General President has addressed the RNC.” Deniz also expressed gratitude for Trump’s invitation and called for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to extend a similar invitation. “We appreciate former President Trump’s openness to inviting a labor leader to speak on behalf of working families. We sincerely hope the DNC will also respond to our request with an invitation.”

The Teamsters union, which supported Joe Biden in the 2020 election and Hillary Clinton in 2016, has not yet endorsed a candidate for the 2024 presidential election. This lack of endorsement adds further weight to O’Brien’s upcoming speech at the RNC, signaling a potential shift in the union’s political engagements.

The inclusion of a labor leader at the RNC underscores the growing importance of labor issues in American politics and the efforts by political leaders to appeal to working-class voters. As the political landscape evolves, the involvement of influential labor organizations like the Teamsters will be crucial in shaping future policies and endorsements.