Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien mentions that Bernie Sanders has ceased communication with him.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien Discusses Break with Bernie Sanders

On Tuesday, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien shared that he has not heard from Senator Bernie Sanders following O’Brien’s speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention. He expressed that Sanders “will not talk to me anymore,” which reflects a significant shift in their communication.

Despite O’Brien’s prior engagements with Sanders, he indicated that the senator likely viewed his participation at the RNC as a betrayal, suggesting that this could be the reason for their lack of communication. After attempting to reach out for comments, O’Brien reported that he received no response from the Democratic National Committee, and the Teamsters did not back either Trump or Harris in the upcoming election.

When asked about his previous conversations with Sanders, O’Brien admitted that they had met regularly. He seemed to think that Sanders felt offended by the Teamsters’ stance. “I think he sees it as a betrayal of not supporting the Democrats,” he remarked.

Additionally, he shared frustrations about communication issues with Sanders’ staff regarding labor standards, stating that his team had reached out, but the interaction was unproductive. He remarked, “When we carry that water, we’re just good for people, but I don’t think that’s a problem.”

O’Brien seemed to hold a mix of admiration and disappointment towards Sanders, noting, “I like the guy. I admire him, but I think people personalize politics too much.”

Critique of Kamala Harris

O’Brien also took the opportunity to address his concerns about former Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of pressuring the union for support. He recounted a particular encounter with her that left him feeling uneasy. His anecdote involved a member of his team being confronted by Harris, who suggested that the Teamsters should align with her campaign. The exchange clearly left O’Brien feeling perturbed.

He criticized Harris’ recent engagement with the union’s executives, stating that out of 16 questions prepared, she only addressed four, and even then, not satisfactorily. O’Brien relayed that at one point, his staff indicated that Harris was becoming evasive, which did not sit well with him.