US President Biden on Tuesday to striking car factory workers

2023-09-23 07:28:55

23 sep 2023 om 09:24 Update: 16 minuten geleden

US President Joe Biden will go to Michigan on Tuesday to express his support for the strike at major car factories in Detroit. His visit is special: it is rare for an American president to visit strikers.

This industrial action has gripped the American auto industry for more than a week. Biden wants to visit the strikers a day before former President Donald Trump.

“On Tuesday I’m going to Michigan,” Biden announced on social medium X. “It’s time for a win-win deal that ensures American car production thrives,” he added. The president previously also called on car manufacturers General Motors (GM), Ford and Stellantis to offer more wages to their employees.

Biden’s visit is special, historian Jeremi Suri of the University of Texas at Austin said: “This would be a big, big change for Biden as president to side with the striking workers, instead of the industry or to stay above the parties.”

Camp Trump speaks of ‘cheap photo session’

Democrat Biden sees himself as a pro-union president. With his visit to the strikers, he is most likely also trying to strengthen ties with the UAW car union, the driving force behind this strike.

Many unions have already expressed support for Biden’s re-election as president, but the UAW has not yet done so.

However, Republican Trump also wants to return to the White House and may become Biden’s main rival in next year’s presidential elections. A Trump campaign spokesperson dismissed Biden’s announced visit as a “cheap photo op.” The only reason Biden wants to go to Michigan on Tuesday would be because Trump said he’s going on Wednesday.

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