President Joe Biden made history on Tuesday by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to join a picket line during a major strike.
The 46th U.S. president traveled to Michigan to show support for the United Auto Workers (UAW), which is striking all three major Detroit motor companies: Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F), General Motors Co (NYSE: GM) and Stellantis NV (NYSE: STLA).
“Stick with it,” Biden told workers. “Because you deserve the significant raise you need and other benefits.”
Former President Donald Trump also plans to visit striking workers in Michigan on Wednesday — one day after Biden joined the picket line. There’s a strong chance, according to betting markets and polling data, that the 2024 presidential election will be a rematch of the 2020 election that featured Biden and Trump.
The fact that both potential candidates are visiting the UAW strike on consecutive days, indicates that their respective campaigns are focused on blue-collar workers in the U.S. Michigan was one of the many mid-western states that voted for Trump in 2016. Biden won the state in 2020.
Biden showed support for UAW strikers, saying that they deserved a lot more in pay than what they are currently getting. But, some UAW strikers are not too thrilled about Biden and Trump visiting the picket lines, feeling that they are politicizing the strike and using the union members for clout, according to BBC.
The auto industry has been a big part of Biden’s political career. During the fallout from the 2009 Great Recession, Biden helped oversee the government’s bailout of the auto industry, saving thousands of jobs in Detroit.
UAW’s President Shawn Fain has yet to officially endorse Biden, but he did ride with him in the presidential limousine to the picket line.
Produced in association with Benzinga
