Pennsylvania steelworkers made a strong showing at former President Trump's rally on Monday night, despite their union's endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. The rally, held at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, saw a diverse crowd of supporters, including those donning white and orange hard hats alongside individuals sporting MAGA baseball caps.
One steelworker, Ron Anderson, expressed his support for Trump, citing the former president's previous actions on tariffs as a reason for his continued backing. Anderson stated, 'He saved us once with tariffs. He's gonna save us again.'
While unions have traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party, Harris missed out on key endorsements in 2020, including from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. A poll conducted among its members revealed a higher level of support for Trump.
Both Trump and Harris share opposition to the sale of U.S. Steel to the Japanese firm Nippon, a stance that resonated with Anderson and his fellow steelworkers at the rally, who vehemently opposed the transfer. Despite this shared position, the steelworkers still viewed Trump as the preferred candidate.
Anderson expressed disillusionment with the Democratic Party, stating, 'Democrats haven't done anything for us in 40 years. They ain't gonna do anything for us now.'