Believe it or not, but Donald Trump pulled off some very impressive achievements since 2016.
In a stunning shift, one of the nation’s top labor leaders recently gave high praise to President-elect Donald Trump, revealing his admiration for Trump’s commitment to fighting for the American worker. Dennis Daggett, Executive Vice President of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), expressed his surprise after meeting with Trump, saying the experience was one he never thought he’d have.
For years, labor unions have been predominantly aligned with the Democratic Party. However, Daggett, who had long been skeptical of Republican support for working-class Americans, was taken aback by the President-elect’s genuine concern for the future of American workers. “In over 25 years of working in Washington, I have never seen a Republican take up the mantle for working-class people. President-elect Trump proved me wrong,” Daggett wrote on Facebook after their meeting. He went on to say that Trump didn’t just talk about supporting workers in private, but made it clear in front of the world that he stood with the American workforce.
During their discussion, Trump showed a deep understanding of key issues facing the longshoremen and other working-class sectors, particularly the threat posed by automation. Daggett noted that it was rare to find a leader who actually listens, and even more rare to find someone who is ready to take action. The ILA president explained that Trump was not just sympathetic to their concerns, but also actively engaged in the conversation, acknowledging the profound economic risks posed by automation to both jobs and communities.
Trump’s response was telling. After the meeting, he posted on Truth Social, saying, “The amount of finances saved [via automation] is nowhere near the distress, pain, and damage it causes for American workers.” He highlighted how foreign companies have profited while American workers bear the brunt of these changes.
This rare show of support for American workers comes after years of a Republican Party that was often viewed as antagonistic toward labor unions. However, under Trump, the GOP has made significant strides in appealing to the working class, particularly through its protectionist stance on trade and job preservation. Trump’s outreach to unions was further solidified when he invited Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention, marking the first time the union’s leadership addressed a GOP gathering.
In a further sign of his commitment to workers, Trump’s choice of Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as his pick for Secretary of Labor was widely praised. Chavez-DeRemer, who had sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which supported workers’ rights to unionize and pushed back against state right-to-work laws, is seen as a strong ally of the American workforce.
Trump’s ability to connect with labor leaders and working-class voters marks a fundamental shift in the Republican Party, showing that conservative policies can protect American jobs while standing firm against globalist trade practices. For many, it proves that Trump is a Republican who isn’t afraid to put the American worker first.