Donald Trump’s one-on-one with Elon Musk on Monday night broke all sorts of records, and it was a casual discussion that covered many topics – including unions and strikes. At one point, former President Trump made a seemingly offhand remark about firing striking workers, which, to be fair, is illegal under current labor laws. The United Auto Workers (UAW) responded by claiming they had filed charges in federal court.
What exactly it is for is not known.
However, comments about this possibility do not violate any law. The United Auto Workers (UAW) have nevertheless filed federal charges against Donald Trump and Elon Musk over the comment, although at the time of this writing it is unclear which law exactly they think they have violated.
The United Auto Workers union has filed federal labor charges against former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the union said Tuesday.
In a Thread on XThe union said Trump and Musk illegally attempted to “threaten and intimidate workers who stand up for themselves by engaging in protected concerted actions such as strikes.”
Musk, who supports Trump for president, interviewed him for two hours on X Spaces on Monday evening. The conversation reached over a million users.
To describe this action as a federal indictment is a bit of an exaggeration and is similar to Battle of Rorke’s Drift a “slight difference of opinion”.
In the interview, Trump praised Musk as the “biggest headhunter,” apparently referring to the mass layoffs he carried out when he took over X (then Twitter).
“I mean, I look at what you’re doing. You come in and say, ‘You want to quit?'” Trump said. “I won’t name the company, but they’re on strike and you say, ‘They’re all gone.'”
Trump was almost certainly also referring to the significant staff cuts at X when Musk took over the former Twitter, and to be straightforward, the previous organization was reportedly very spartan.
Ironically, the UAW used Musk’s Platform X to announce the action.
🧵UAW files charges against Donald Trump and Elon Musk in federal labor court for attempted intimidation and threats against workers
– UAW (@UAW) 13 August 2024
A publicity stunt? Almost certainly. I can’t think of any law they broke with a casual remark in an interview.
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The UAW would be well advised to exercise some discretion here. While the leadership classes of the major unions have always supported the Democrats, financed their campaigns and campaigned for their election, the rank and file union members have Republicans with tip and it is precisely these ordinary voters who might find Trump’s populist message appealing.
In any case – and keep in mind that I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on television – this case is going nowhere. The charges would – or at least should, given the current situation – be thrown out on First Amendment grounds the first time they are heard before a judge. This is a publicity stunt designed to reflect poorly on the Trump campaign, and nothing more.
Elon Musk responded on Tuesday, pointing out that the UAW has some skeletons in its closet.
The last two UAW presidents went to prison for bribery and corruption, and according to recent news, it looks like this man is going to join them in prison, too!
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 13 August 2024
We may remember an venerable saying about people who live in glass houses.
