Dem Candidate Makes Anti-Trump Union Claim. Gets Called Out Almost Instantly

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is facing significant pushback after making a sweeping claim about how unions feel about President Donald Trump.

“You know who’s never caved to Trump’s tyranny? Unions,” the Democrat posted to X on Sunday, alongside a clip highlighting his backing from labor groups.

The post was quickly hit with a fact-check on the platform, noting: “Contrary to the claim, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien spoke at the 2024 RNC and endorsed Trump’s DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin,” along with links to NPR and WSBT reports.

You know who’s never caved to Trump’s tyranny? Unions. pic.twitter.com/4xS8Hi9NPZ

— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) April 19, 2026

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the largest labor unions in the United States, represents 1.3 million members, including truckers. The union’s Detroit branch alone has roughly 36,000 members, according to the Center for Union Facts.

While O’Brien was vocal about his support, the union itself did not formally endorse a presidential candidate in 2024. However, internal polling showed “rank-and-file” members favored Trump by nearly 60%, compared to just 34% for then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

O’Brien also thanked Trump for nominating Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor.

“You put words into action. Now let’s grow wages and improve working conditions nationwide,” O’Brien wrote in a post at the time. “North America’s strongest union is ready to work with you every step of the way to expand good union jobs and rebuild our nation’s middle class. Let’s get to work!”

Left-leaning users on X quickly pointed out the Teamsters poll, while others criticized the sentiment of the candidate’s post overall.

Transportation writer Sam Deutsch responded with an image of the Teamsters poll, simply commenting, “hmmm.”

“I don’t think this is factually accurate,” Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias added.

“The head of the Teamsters spoke at the RNC and that union refused to endorse democrats in 2024 after the Biden Administration literally bailed out their pension fund but ooooook,” commentator “Hutch” wrote.

Some users even posted pictures of O’Brien speaking at the Republican National Committee and meeting with Trump.

Other unions, including the National Border Patrol Council and the National Fraternal Order of Police, also backed Trump’s 2024 campaign.

The Daily Wire reached out to El-Sayed’s campaign for comment.

El-Sayed is in a hotly competitive Democratic primary against Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, as Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is retiring at the end of his term.

He has secured endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Ro Khanna (D-CA).

The eventual Democratic nominee will take on former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) in the general election, currently rated as a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report.