Teamsters President Sean O’Brien has expressed disappointment over not being invited to address the Democratic National Convention (DNC) following his speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) last month. O’Brien, a self-proclaimed lifelong Democrat, highlighted that the DNC failed to extend an invitation to one of the most influential unions in the U.S., the Teamsters.
During an appearance on 'Your World with Neil Cavuto,' O’Brien emphasized the longstanding presence of the Teamsters, stating, 'You know, the reality is they didn’t invite us, and we’ve been around for 121 years. We’re going to continue to be around for 121 years.' He suggested that his criticism of corporate elitists in his RNC speech might have played a role in the DNC's decision not to invite him.
O’Brien pointed out that his remarks at the RNC, where he called out companies like Uber, Lyft, and Amazon, who are significant donors to both the RNC and the DNC, could have made certain DNC relationships uncomfortable. He stated, 'There's relationships there at the DNC that maybe they didn't want me to speak there because I would've talked to that same group. I would've exposed those same corporate elitists who attack us [Teamsters] every single day.'
His comments reflect a sense of frustration at what he perceives as a missed opportunity to address key issues affecting the labor movement and working-class Americans. O’Brien’s stance underscores the complex dynamics between political parties, corporate interests, and labor unions in the current political landscape.