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The Trump campaign reacted on Thursday to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) refusing to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
Trump campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “devastating blow” to the Harris-Walz campaign.
“This is another devastating blow to Kamala Harris’ failing campaign. Hardworking Americans including Teamsters, firefighters, Border Patrol Agents, law enforcement officers, teachers, small business owners, moms and dads are sick and tired from the inflation, border crisis, and chaos caused by Kamala’s incompetence and terrible policies,” Leavitt wrote in a statement.
“President Trump represents the change our country desperately needs and he will deliver economic relief, safety, and security for all Americans,” she added.
In a separate statement, the Trump campaign noted that the IAFF was the first union to endorse President Joe Biden in 2020 and has endorsed a Democrat in every election since 1976 except for 2016 when the group also made no endorsement.
The announcement was made by the group’s General President Edward Kelly on Thursday on behalf of over 300,000 firefighters and first responders.
“The IAFF Executive Board determined that we are better able to advocate for our members and make progress on the issues that matter to them if we, as a union, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder,” Kelly said in a statement. “This decision, which we took very seriously, is the best way to preserve and strengthen our unity.”
The decision came after a vote among leaders that determined by “a margin of 1.2%” not to endorse a candidate, the group announced.
The choice not to endorse the Harris-Walz campaign followed a visit from Gov. Tim Walz, who addressed the group’s annual convention, and Harris, who visited the group earlier this year. Trump running mate JD Vance also addressed the group’s annual convention.
“The news is a particular blow to Vice President Kamala Harris, since the union was the first to endorse Joe Biden’s presidential bid in 2020,” NBC News reported.
The move follows the Teamsters Union which also decided not to endorse a candidate this year. The union typically endorses the Democratic candidate for president.
As RSBN previously reported, the Teamsters polling conducted by Lake Research Partners found that 58 percent backed Trump while 31 percent supported Harris.
