The Trump campaign is countering after the hospitality union UNITE HERE dismissed Trump’s tax-free tips pledge and declared its support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
“It’s unfortunate that union leaders remain puppets for the Democrat Party and are entirely disconnected from the workers they are meant to represent,” Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital.
The remarks follow the announcement from UNITE HERE that, as part of its endorsement, members will commit to canvassing over 3 million doors in key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina, as reported by ABC News.
This commitment occurs despite Trump’s appeal for the backing of restaurant and hotel employees, vowing tax-free tips within his wider tax cut strategy.
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Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump (Getty Images)
“To those in the hospitality industry and others who rely on tips, you will be pleased, because once I take office, we will not tax tips for those who earn them,” Trump stated during a June 9 rally in Nevada, a pivotal state for hospitality workers.
However, UNITE HERE president Gwen Mills asserted that Trump’s promise is merely a tactic for securing votes, stating that Harris has an extensive record of advocating for union support.
The competition for the votes of tipped employees is intensifying as Trump, along with Ohio Senator JD Vance—whom Trump selected as his running mate last month—seek to attract blue-collar workers in the Rust Belt.
“In small towns like mine in Ohio, or adjacent in Pennsylvania, or in Michigan, across our nation, jobs were outsourced and children sent to conflict,” Vance expressed in his address at the Republican National Convention.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Westover High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on July 18, 2024. (Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images)
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“To the residents of Middletown, Ohio, and all the overlooked communities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and every part of our nation, I promise you this,” he continued. “I will serve as a vice president who never forgets his roots.”
Additionally, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien marked a significant moment by being the first leader of his union to address the Republican National Convention, indicating a rare willingness to consider supporting a Republican ticket.
Sen. JD Vance speaks during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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“We owe nothing to anyone or any party,” O’Brien stated. “Our only concern is: What are you doing to support American workers?”
Meanwhile, Leavitt emphasized that Trump remains committed to delivering results for American workers.
“President Trump fulfills his promises and will uphold his pledge to eliminate taxes on tips so that America’s service workers can retain more of their hard-earned income,” Leavitt noted. “In contrast to Kamala Harris, who contributed to the inflation crisis under Joe Biden, President Trump is an accomplished business leader with a proven history of fostering a thriving economy for America’s workforce, and he will do so again.”
UNITE HERE has not yet responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
