Biden, Trump visit Michigan this week to show support for UAW members
(CBS DETROIT) - President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be in Michigan this week to show support for UAW members on the picket lines as they continue to strike against the Big Three.
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, Biden became the first sitting president to walk a picket line with union members.
This comes after UAW President Shawn Fain invited the president to join autoworkers on the picket lines during his announcement on Friday, where he announced the strike would expand to 38 General Motors and Stellantis facilities across 20 states.
Ford was not targeted in the strike expansion, as Fain said the UAW had made significant progress in negotiations with the automaker.
Former President Donald Trump will also visit autoworkers in Detroit this week on Wednesday, Sept. 27, instead of attending the second Republican presidential primary debate.
Trump criticized Biden's announcement about joining UAW members, saying he only decided to visit the autoworkers after the former president announced he would be in Detroit.
"Crooked Joe Biden had no intention of going to visit the United Autoworkers, until I announced that I would be heading to Michigan to be with them," Trump said in a social media post. "If the UAW 'leadership' doesn't ENDORSE me, and if I don't win the Election, the Autoworkers are 'toast'..."
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement about Biden's visit to Michigan, calling it historic.
"President Biden's visit to Michigan, home of the Big Three, to support our world-class autoworkers is historic," said Whitmer. "The president is committed to strengthening our workforce and economy by bringing jobs home from overseas, reversing trends of the previous administration that lost jobs. Since taking office, we've announced 36,000 auto jobs with help from President Biden's investments, proving it's possible to support working men and women, while also securing record-breaking economic development deals that will guarantee jobs and investment for decades."
In addition, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist also released the following statement:
"President Biden's visit to Michigan shows the world that this president supports working families," said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "Governor Whitmer and I are grateful for the historic investments the Biden-Harris administration has made to help us bring supply chains home from overseas, restore workers' rights to collectively bargain for safer workplaces and higher wages, create high-skilled, high-tech, good-paying jobs, and cement Michigan as the best place to innovate the future. We are grateful for the partnership of the Biden Administration, and we will continue to stand tall for working people in communities across Michigan."
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