Walz Says Union Leaders Are Cowards For Listening To Members Instead Of Party

Governor Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice-presidential candidate, has slammed labor union leaders who refused to endorse the Harris-Walz ticket, calling them cowards while acknowledging that many union members support Donald Trump. His remarks, made during an interview with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show," have sparked new tensions within the labor movement.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, has stirred controversy by sharply criticizing labor union leaders who have not endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket, labeling them as cowards. Walz, speaking during an interview on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart, admitted that the rank-and-file members of these unions largely support Donald Trump, a political reality he described as a challenge for the campaign.

Walz addressed the issue of union endorsements when Stewart questioned why some unions have been reluctant to back the Democratic ticket in 2024. Walz quickly interjected, explaining that union leaders face "tough politics" within their organizations. "These are folks that are directly responsible to their members," he said, before going on to accuse certain union leaders of lacking the necessary courage to stand with the Harris-Walz campaign. “The vast majority of union leaders showed the courage, they’re backing us,” Walz asserted.

Stewart pressed further, pointing out the apparent disconnect between unions and the Democratic ticket, especially given Trump’s track record on labor issues. Walz, acknowledging that some union members had split from Democratic ranks to support Trump, criticized their choice. “How can you be with a guy who wants to bust up unions, not there to make collective bargaining a right, not to make health care there?” he said, expressing disbelief at the support Trump receives from working-class voters who belong to unions.

Despite the friction with some union leaders, Walz maintained that the campaign must improve its outreach to workers. “We have to do a better job of talking to people,” he admitted, signaling that the Harris-Walz ticket still faces an uphill battle in winning over the broader labor base as the 2024 election looms.