‘One Tough SOB’: Teamsters President Praises Trump At Republican National Convention

Teamsters Union President Sean O’Brien praised former President Donald Trump in a historic address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday.

While Trump is not scheduled to address the convention until Thursday, the former president made a surprise entrance on Monday, just a little over 48 hours after he was just about killed by a would-be assassin at a Pennsylvania rally. Sporting a white bandage on his wounded ear, a visibly emotional Trump walked out to a live rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA.”

O’Brien — who is set to address both major parties at their respective conventions this year — took the stage roughly 10 minutes later. The union boss praised former President Trump for his bravery displayed after the assassination attempt and referred to him as a “tough SOB.”

“I think we all can agree; whether people like him, or they don’t like him, in light of what happened to him on Saturday… he has proven to be one tough S.O.B,” O’Brien said while pointing to the former president. The statement drew one of the loudest reactions of the convention’s opening night.

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Elsewhere in his speech, O’Brien thanked the Republican Party for inviting him to speak and singled out several Republican lawmakers who have been standing with union workers.

“First, I want to thank the hard-working Teamsters and union members here in Milwaukee who play vital roles in the building and operations of this convention. I also want to thank President Donald Trump for opening the RNC’s doors to the Teamsters Union and invited me to speak before you tonight,” he said.

“I travel all across this country and meet with my members every week. You know what I see? An American worker being taken for granted. Workers being sold out to big banks, big tech, corporates in the elite. And I’m not the only one who sees this. Everyday families see it,” the union leader continued. “The American people aren’t stupid. They know the system is broken. We all know how Washington is run. Working people have no chance of winning this fight. That’s why I’m here today. Because I refuse to keep doing the same things my predecessors did.”

O’Brien singled out Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance, and others for their help with union issues.

“In my administration, the Teamsters reached out to eight Republican senators who stood up for railroad Teamsters over our fight for paid sick leave. Josh Hawley was one of them,” O’Brien said, drawing applause.

“We started talking. Senator Hawley changed his position on national right to work. Then we started walking. Senator Hawley walked a Teamsters picket line in St. Louis and a UAW picket line in Wentzville, Missouri. More than that, I want to recognize Senator Hawley for his direct, relentless, and pointed want to recognize Senator Hawley for his direct, relentless, and pointed questioning of corporate talking heads, lawyers, CEOs, and apologists.”

With his speech, O’Brien became the first Teamsters boss to address the Republican National Convention in the organization’s 121-year history.

O’Brien was not the only leader to speak on night one of the Republican National Convention. Earlier in the night, New York union leader Bobby Bartels announced that he will be endorsing former President Donald Trump in November.

The union leader told a story about how Trump stepped in to assist with renovating an iconic ice rink in Central Park after Democrat leaders failed to help.

“He wasn’t mayor, he wasn’t running for anything, but he was a guy who cared about people and he knew how to get a job done. He put his money and his reputation on the line and committed to getting it built. He did it using skilled local union labor like the men of Local 638,” the longtime union member continued. “Together, we worked tirelessly on that project, completing it on time and ensuring kids would be skating that fall on that rink.”

“That’s why this Union Democrat will be voting Trump this November. So that we can take back the middle class, take back the country, and rebuild the middle class that my union has helped build over so many years.”

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