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Joe Biden faces backlash as he plans Michigan trip to support United Auto Workers: 'He's only going because Trump is'

Joe Biden will stand with UAW picketers in Michigan while Donald Trump plans to visit the Detroit area one day afterward

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: President Joe Biden recently announced that he will "join the picket line" with members of the United Auto Workers union in Michigan next week. 

Biden said he is ready to support the workers union's demand for higher pay and a shorter work week from the "Big Three" automakers, including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Stellantis. 

"Tuesday, I’ll go to Michigan to join the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of UAW as they fight for a fair share of the value they helped create," the president wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"It’s time for a win-win agreement that keeps American auto manufacturing thriving with well-paid UAW jobs," he added. 

However, some social media users were quick to troll Biden's announcement by pointing out that his visit will take place one day before former President Donald Trump’s previously announced Detroit trip, during which he will host a rally featuring 500 autoworkers and other tradesmen. 

How long has the United Auto Workers been striking? 

The members of United Auto Workers began striking on September 15, 2023, as per newly elected UAW president Shawn Fain's decision after the union failed to reach a deal with the three automaker giants. They have been striking for 9 days, as of September 23, evening.

On Friday, September 22, the UAW announced that it is expanding the strike to include 5,600 workers who walked out of 38 Stellantis and General Motors facilities in 38 locations and 28 states. 

The expansion did not include workers from Ford-operated facilities as Fain revealed that the union has made progress in negotiations with Ford and will not ask employees to walk off their jobs.

"We’ve made some real progress at Ford. We ... want to recognize that Ford is showing that they are serious about reaching a deal. At GM and Stellantis, it’s a different story," Fain shared, as per Associated Press. 

When the strike first began last Friday, September 15, nearly 13,000 UAW members working for Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis came together to demand a 46% pay raise to offset inflation and a 32-hour work week. 

Demands also include the end of a tiered employment system, improved overtime and retirement benefits, and improved worker protections against plant closures.

Shawn Fain called for support from President Joe Biden

According to the New York Post, Fain appeared on a livestream and called for President Biden as well as every individual who supports the union's cause to join them in their fight.

"We invite and encourage everyone who supports our case to join us on the picket line, from our friends and families all the way up to the president of the United States. We invite you to join us in our fight," he mentioned.

The union reportedly withheld its endorsement of President Biden due to concerns about his support for electric vehicles, the publication reported. 

Joe Biden trolled over joining the UAW strike 

Following Biden's announcement of plans to join the UAW strike, several social media users, including conservatives took to X to troll the President. 

"Joe Biden’s trip to Michigan is nothing more than a cheap photo op as he finds himself between a rock and a political hard place," Trump campaign adviser wrote on X.

"1) The only reason Biden is going to Michigan on Tuesday is because President Trump announced he is going on Wednesday. If President Trump had said nothing, Biden would be giving UAW workers in Michigan 'the East Palestine treatment,'" he alleged.

"2) Biden is still hell-bent on destroying all of the auto jobs he’s purporting to care about. His visit on Tuesday is completely meaningless unless he withdraws his Insane EV Mandate and rebukes his Green New Deal, which Biden will never do because he's beholden to the Radical Left Eco-Loons in California," Miller continued.

"Joe Biden cares more about his extremist liberal base than he does about auto workers in Michigan or anywhere else in the United States," he added. 

"He's only going because Trump is," one user wrote. "Trump forced his hand lol," joked another. 

"What happens after the photo op?" one asked. "Because of trump," a fourth user said. "Biden is going because Trump is going," another user stated. 

One said, "They should ask him why he broke up the railroad workers’ strike," while another added, "He's gonna go out there and be wishy washy about supporting them and then advise the auto workers to be reasonable in their demands."

Trump heading to Detriot to plead with UAW members

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Trump will skip the second Republican presidential debate on September 27 and visit Detroit instead to join striking members of the United Auto Workers. 

During his visit, the former president will host a rally featuring 500 autoworkers and other tradesmen, the New York Post reported. 

During an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker, Trump said United Auto Workers’ leadership had failed its members.

"The auto workers are being sold down the river by their leadership, and their leadership should endorse Trump," he mentioned. 

However, UAW president Fain slammed the idea of Trump's visit in a statement to CNN. 

"Every fiber of our union is being poured into fighting the billionaire class and an economy that enriches people like Donald Trump at the expense of workers," Fain said. 

"We can’t keep electing billionaires and millionaires that don’t have any understanding what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to get by and expecting them to solve the problems of the working class," he stated.