Teamsters President Delivers Anti-Big Business Speech at RNC

Sean O'Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, made history by addressing the Republican National Convention on Monday with a keynote speech that heavily criticized big businesses. O’Brien, the first Teamsters boss to speak at the RNC in the organization’s 121-year history, emphasized the union’s independence from party loyalties, despite having endorsed Democrats in recent years.

In his speech, O’Brien took aim at corporate giants like Walmart and Amazon, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, which he likened to «unions for big business.» He argued that Washington is failing to prioritize the interests of American workers and called for a bipartisan effort to address the broken system.

Former President Donald Trump, who recently survived an attempt on his life, received a standing ovation for O’Brien’s speech, underscoring the alignment of O’Brien’s message with the Republican Party‘s evolving populist stance. Trump, along with his allies and family members present at the convention, applauded O’Brien’s bold criticism of the status quo.

O’Brien commended Trump for his receptiveness to diverse and critical voices, noting that the President’s invitation to the Teamsters to speak at the RNC was unprecedented. He emphasized that the union’s engagement transcends party affiliations and is focused on advancing the interests of American workers, regardless of political labels.

Having sought to address both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, O’Brien’s decision to speak at the RNC underscores a broader shift within the GOP towards a more worker-centric messaging, particularly evident since Trump’s election in 2016. By inviting O’Brien to speak and embracing his anti-big business rhetoric, the party signals a departure from its traditional corporate-focused agenda.