US Auto Workers Union Files Charges Against Trump and Musk Alleging Intimidation of Auto Workers

The United Auto Workers (UAW), a major motor industry union in the US, has filed federal labor charges against Donald Trump and Elon Musk, accusing them of unlawfully intimidating workers during a highly publicized conversation on X (formerly Twitter).
In a Monday night exchange, Trump and Musk discussed a series of radical conspiracy theories. The conversation took a turn when Trump commented on Musk’s management style, implying that Musk had a harsh approach to handling strikes.
Trump said, “You walk in, you say, ‘You want to quit?’ They go on strike, and you say, ‘That’s OK, you’re all gone. You’re all gone.’ So, every one of you is gone.”
Musk, who made significant layoffs after acquiring Twitter in October 2022 and dismissed over 10% of Tesla’s global workforce in April, has faced criticism for his handling of labor issues.
The UAW argues that under federal law, workers cannot be fired for striking, and threats to do so are illegal under the National Labor Relations Act. UAW President Shawn Fain condemned Trump and Musk, stating, “When we say Donald Trump is a scab, this is what we mean. Both Trump and Musk want working-class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly. It’s disgusting, illegal, and totally predictable from these two clowns.”
Musk, who owns X, SpaceX, and Tesla, has faced ongoing criticism for obstructing unionization efforts at his companies globally, including recent disputes in Sweden, Norway, and complaints from former SpaceX workers in California.