Donald Trump’s working mate didn’t obtain the warmest of welcomes at a firefighters union convention in Boston on Thursday.
Ohio Sen. JD Vance might clearly hear the boos when he took the stage in entrance of the Worldwide Affiliation of Hearth Fighters, a union each Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are courting for an endorsement.
Vance took the tepid reception in stride.
“Sounds like we got some fans and some haters,” he quipped. “That’s okay. … I’ll make my pitch.”
Vance has been described as a brand new breed of ostensibly pro-labor Republican, nevertheless it was clear lots of the firefighters in attendance weren’t shopping for it.
Trump was vehemently anti-union all through his first time period, stacking companies with appointees hostile to labor and attempting to interrupt federal worker unions. That report has left Vance with a troublesome rebranding project.
On Thursday, Vance praised firefighters and emergency responders for his or her service, drawing applause at occasions. He shared a private story of calling 911 as a 12-year-old, when his mom was in the course of what he known as a “terrible, terrible addiction crisis,” and credited the primary responders for calming her and the kids down. He mentioned first responders saved his mom’s life years later.
“If you ever feel like you’re not making a difference, listen to this: From the sad and tearful 12-year-old, to a 40-year-old who’s now asking to be your vice president, you do make a difference,” Vance mentioned.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI by way of Getty Pictures
He additionally tried to make the case for a “pro-worker” Trump presidency.
“President Trump and I are proud to be the most pro-worker Republican ticket in history,” Vance claimed. He insisted Trump “cares for working people.”
“He’s been fighting for them for his entire life in public service,” Vance mentioned. “He loves our firefighters and our first responders, and he wants to make your lives better, and he wants to make your service easier.”
As HuffPost cataloged earlier this 12 months, Trump pursued a slew of reforms whereas president that have been meant to assist employers on the expense of employees. He tried to place a fast-food CEO answerable for the Labor Division; made it simpler for companies to cover office accidents; tried to offer eating places extra management over employees’ ideas; and made it more durable for employees to prepare, amongst many guidelines and tried reforms.
Most main unions shortly got here out in assist of Harris after President Joe Biden introduced he was withdrawing from the race. The IAFF, nevertheless, has not but mentioned which candidate it should again, if any.
Harris’ working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, addressed the firefighter crowd on Wednesday. He didn’t seem like booed throughout his introduction.
