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aquascoot
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Poor gweg is wrong again
Trump’s appeal among some union members (not usually union leadership) comes from a mix of economic, cultural, and political factors. Here’s the breakdown of why he is popular with parts of the labour-union rank and file:
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1. Economic Populism and Protectionism
Many blue-collar union members work in manufacturing, mining, construction, transportation, and similar sectors that have been affected by offshoring and trade competition.
Trump’s positions resonate because he:
Promises to restore manufacturing jobs
Criticizes free-trade agreements (NAFTA, TPP)
Pushes tariffs to protect U.S. industry
Frames himself as fighting for “forgotten workers”
To workers who feel economically insecure, this message can feel more concrete than traditional political rhetoric.
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2. Cultural and Social Identity
A large share of union membership today is white, male, and working-class, especially in the private sector (Teamsters, building trades, etc.).
Trump appeals to some of these voters through:
Cultural conservatism
Support for gun rights
Tough-on-crime messaging
Anti-elitism and anti-establishment language
Many union members vote on social or identity issues, not purely union-policy issues.
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3. Distrust of Union Leadership
In several unions, especially the building trades, there is often a disconnect between union leadership (which typically supports Democrats) and rank-and-file members, who may feel leadership is too political or too liberal.
Some union members feel:
Leadership is out of touch
Leaders are too aligned with the Democratic Party
Trump speaks “directly” to workers in plain language
This gap lets Trump appeal to workers even when their unions officially oppose him.
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4. Immigration and Jobs
Trump’s hard line on immigration appeals to some workers who fear that:
Cheap labor lowers wages
Employers use undocumented workers to undermine unions
Job competition is hurting their livelihoods
This concern is pronounced in industries like construction, food processing, trucking, and some manufacturing sectors.
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5. Anti-Establishment Appeal
Some union members simply like Trump’s posture as a disruptor who challenges political insiders, Wall Street, and global corporations—even if his policies aren’t always pro-union.
They see him as:
“Standing up” to Washington
Willing to fight
Not polished or scripted
Anti-PC and confrontational
This anti-elite tone resonates with workers who feel marginalized.
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6. Personal Perception of Economic Outcomes
Some union members believe they did better financially during Trump’s presidency, especially during the pre-COVID economy, and credit him with:
Low unemployment
Rising wages (in some sectors)
Strong stock market and consumer confidence
Whether or not Trump caused these conditions, the perception matters politically.
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7. Certain Unions Are More Inclined Toward Trump
Some specific types of unions have pockets of strong Trump support, especially:
Building trades (plumbers, pipefitters, carpenters, electricians)
Police and some first-responder unions
Some Teamsters locals
Coal, oil, gas, and mining unions
These groups tend to be more conservative or tied to industries Trump strongly supports (fossil fuels, heavy construction, trucking).
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In Short
Trump is popular with some union members because he appeals to their economic anxieties, cultural identity, anti-elite sentiment, and perceptions of job security.
This popularity is mostly among rank-and-file members, not union leadership, who generally oppose his labour policies.
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