During a visit to striking Boeing workers in Seattle, Senator Maria Cantwell faced boos from the crowd after she criticized former President Donald Trump and blamed him for the ongoing housing crisis.
Speaking to members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 751, Cantwell expressed frustration over high housing costs, explaining that a bipartisan housing deal aimed at building affordable units fell apart when Trump took office.
“Housing everywhere is expensive,” Cantwell said. “We haven’t built enough supply.” She went on to claim that a deal she had been negotiating would have resulted in up to a million housing units, but Trump “squashed that deal.”
However, the crowd’s reaction was swift and negative, with boos drowning out her remarks. Union member Dan Zahlman explained on KTTH Seattle’s “The Jason Rantz Show” that the workers were reacting to Cantwell’s introduction of political rhetoric.
“She did not have a friendly audience to spew that at,” he said, adding that Trump has strong support among union members.
Cantwell, who faces re-election in Democrat-dominated Washington, did not respond to requests for comment. The IAM 751 union, representing 33,000 workers, recently began a strike after rejecting a contract that proposed a 25% pay increase over four years.
Union President Jon Holden emphasized that the strike is about respect and securing a stable future for workers.
In response, Boeing noted that the tentative agreement was rejected by the union members, expressing their commitment to renegotiate.
Boeing faces significant financial pressures from the strike and recently announced plans to raise $25 billion through stock and debt offerings, as well as a $10 billion credit agreement to cover potential losses.
The incident at Boeing underscores tensions between Cantwell and some working-class voters, particularly as union support for Trump remains strong. The reaction also highlights a broader trend of labor workers aligning with Trump, which could impact Cantwell’s campaign.
The Boeing strike reflects larger labor issues, with workers demanding better wages and conditions amid rising living costs, underscoring the complex dynamics in Washington state’s political landscape as the election approaches.
