New York union leader after Trump meeting: Democrats are pushing everyone to the other side

Donald Trump met with New York union leader Bobby Bartels on Wednesday.

Bartels, who heads Steamfitters Local 638, said members of his working-class, blue-collar union are leaning heavily toward Trump in the presidential election.

Traditionally, union members vote more Democratic. This time, Trump’s stance on issues such as immigration, crime and taxes are the main motivators.

Bartels also had a few words to say after the meeting, telling Newsmax’s Addison Smith that he feels like Democrats have “basically pushed everyone to the other side” over the past four years.

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Union leader Bartels: ‘I want what’s good for America’

“In the past, all of us were basically Democrats,” Bartels said Thursday. “After what’s happened in this country over the past four years, the Democrats have basically pushed everyone to the other side.

“We are a very patriotic group, we love our country and we want the best for America,” he added.

“We’re tired of immigrants, we’re tired of our tax dollars going to immigrants, we’re tired of crime, and we need to take back control of things in this country,” Bartels continued.

The union leader’s comments sound like they could come from any Republican conference in the country.

Bartels also told Fox News, “I conducted a poll among my union. In a presidential poll among my 9,000 members, President Trump led Joe Biden 3 to 1.

This was a huge change for the politics of union members.

Bartels elaborated on this in an interview with Fox News.

“My views haven’t changed because… I want to see what’s done for America. I want something that’s right for America. I want to see what’s done for the citizens,” Bartels told host Brian Kilmeade. My members hope so too. “

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‘Biden is the worst president in history’

“They’re very emotional. They’re living week to week and some of them can’t pay their bills and I think that needs to change.

“Members basically told me, ‘Listen, we want to vote for this guy,’ so when the time comes and I have a bigger poll, we will make a decision, but I will do what my members want I do whatever I do.

Bartels then really took aim at Biden.

“Usually Democrats win New York,” he continued. “Biden is the worst president in history…”

It sounds like traditional blue New York might turn out better for Donald Trump than many expect.