The United Auto Workers Union announced Tuesday that it has filed federal labour charges against former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The union accused Trump and Musk of attempting to intimidate workers involved in legally protected activities, such as strikes, through a thread on X.
Musk, a Trump supporter, conducted a two-hour interview with him on X Spaces on Monday night, reaching over 1 million users. During the conversation, Trump commended Musk as the “greatest cutter,” seemingly referencing the mass layoffs Musk carried out after acquiring X, previously known as Twitter.
Trump remarked, “I mean, I look at what you do. You walk in, you say, ‘You want to quit?’ I won’t mention the name of the company, but they go on strike, and you go, ‘You’re all gone.’” Under the National Labour Relations Act, striking is a protected activity, and workers cannot be legally dismissed for participating.
UAW President Shawn Fain clarified the union’s position, stating, “When we say Donald Trump is a scab, this is what we mean. When we say Trump stands against everything our union stands for, this is what we mean.”
Fain continued, “Donald Trump will always side against workers standing up for themselves, and he will always side with billionaires like Elon Musk, who is contributing $45 million a month to a Super PAC to get him elected. Both Trump and Musk want working-class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly. It’s disgusting, illegal, and totally predictable from these two clowns.”
Brian Hughes, a senior adviser for Trump’s campaign, dismissed the charges as “frivolous” and described them as a “shameless political stunt” in a statement to ABC News. Hughes argued that “Democrat special interest bosses may lie and stoke fear to try and stop President Trump from creating the broadest coalition of any candidate in history, but rank-and-file workers and their families know the truth. President Trump strengthened our economy and delivered results on behalf of the forgotten men and women of America, and he will do it again when he is re-elected on November 5.”
Musk has denied allegations that he is contributing $45 million monthly to support Trump’s election. He has, however, been vocal against the formation of workers’ unions.
On Tuesday, Musk responded to a post on X about the labour charges by criticising Fain, stating, “The last two UAW presidents went to prison for bribery & corruption and, based on recent news, it looks like this guy will join them!”
Musk told BBC’s James Clayton in April 2023 during a Spaces interview that the layoffs at Twitter were “one of the hardest things he’s had to do.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did the United Auto Workers Union file charges against Trump and Musk?
The union claims they illegally threatened and intimidated workers engaged in protected strikes.
What did Trump say during his interview with Musk?
Trump praised Musk for mass layoffs and implied firing striking workers.
Is going on strike a protected activity?
Yes, under the National Labor Relations Act, workers cannot be fired for striking.
How did UAW President Shawn Fain describe Trump and Musk’s stance on workers?
Fain said Trump and Musk are against workers standing up for themselves and side with billionaires.
What was Musk’s response to the labor charges?
Musk criticized Fain and denied contributing $45 million a month to get Trump elected.