Unions who think Republicans are warming to labor rights are getting played

‘Sean O’Brien hoped to move Trump toward labor, but he seemed to forget that Trump is dyed-in-the-wool anti-union.’ Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

When Teamsters president Sean O’Brien spoke at the Republican national convention on opening night, it seemed to hint that the Republican party – long a lapdog for corporate interests – was turning an important page and would stop being so hostile toward labor unions.

But when Donald Trump gave his hugely divisive acceptance speech three days later, he seemed to forget he was supposed to act lovey-dovey toward labor unions. The former president essentially kicked the United Auto Workers (UAW) in the teeth, and the UAW fired back by calling Trump the “mascot and lapdog” of billionaires.