It's Labor Day, but as the midterms near, politicians take no days off, and their holiday messaging is falling along partisan lines.
The White House and Republicans took the day to celebrate a recent win with the stronger-than-expected August jobs report, crediting President Donald Trump as a champion for American workers.
Democrats took the day to message support for unions and organized labor, a group that has long supported the more-left party. Notably, in 2024, the union group International Brotherhood of Teamsters broke ranks with their decades of tradition endorsing Democrats and chose to not endorse Kamala Harris nor to back Trump.
The White House touts Trump
After a stronger-than-expected August jobs report on Friday, Sept. 4, just before Labor Day weekend, Republican
messaging on the holiday fell in line with celebration.
The White House kicked off the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 5, posting, "This Labor Day, we celebrate that more Americans are working than EVER before," and then on Labor Day saying "President Trump will never stop fighting for MADE IN AMERICA."
The Republican Party – which is also spending the day promoting its first-ever midterm convention this week in Dallas – posted a graphic saying that, “MORE AMERICANS ARE WORKING THAN EVER BEFORE THANKS TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP” accompanied by the slang term “Jobsmaxxing." The "–maxxing" suffix has been used online to explain doing something to the maximum.
The August jobs report estimated that 162,000 nonfarm jobs were added to the U.S. labor market, after U.S. employers added a now-revised 21,000 jobs in July. The unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, and labor force participation moved up 0.2 percentage points to 61.6%. The White House said after the report that so far during Trump's second term, 1 million private-sector jobs have been created.
Republican Party Chairman Joe Gruters called Trump the "Jobs President" as he reposted a White House post, writing himself that, "More than 1 million jobs created during President Trumps second term!"
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said that the "American worker is WINNING again," adding that "thanks to Republicans, hardworking Americans have more opportunities and can keep more of their own hard-earned money." Johnson said Americans are experiencing bigger paychecks, no taxes on tips or overtime and a boom in U.S. manufacturing.
The president himself did not post about the successful job numbers on Labor Day – though he did the day before – instead using the holiday to post a partisan attack, saying on Truth Social: " Happy Labor Day to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics, Communists, and Dumocrats who will do anything possible to destroy our Country. These Deranged People, after fighting for 10 years, should finally acknowledge that your Favorite President (ME!), knows how to WIN! They should be exhausted by now but, sadly, they’re not."
The president, who is speaking at the Republican midterm convention this week, continued: "They’re going to give it one last shot at ruining America, but we’re not going to let that happen. We’re going to win the Midterms, BIG, and SAVE AMERICA!"
Democrats message to union voters
While Republicans tout the labor report, Democrats are appealing to union workers – a voter base that is core to the party. Democrats have not completely lost that base, but there has been a trend of blue-collar workers moving away from the party, according to a survey by Center for Labor and a Just Economy in collaboration with the Columbia Labor Lab.
The Democratic Party took to social media Monday morning with post including a graphic that reads "Unions Built the Middle Class," writing that, "Thanks to our labor unions, America’s workers have stronger benefits, fairer wages, and safer working conditions."
The messaging that celebrated unions was similar from Democratic leaders across the country, including from both the established faction and more left-leaning progressives, who have been at odds this midterm primary season. Here's what some of them had to say:
- Former President Joe Biden: "I’ve said it my entire career: the middle class built America. And unions built the middle class. To every worker who's ever punched a clock, worked a double, or walked a line for fair wages – and to everyone who stands up for them, at the bargaining table, in the statehouse, or on the shop floor: thank you. This country runs in large part because of you."
- New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, Democratic minority leader: "Happy Labor Day! Workers and unions are the backbone of our economy, and we owe them our gratitude today and every day."
- Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who has signaled a likely 2028 presidential run: "The 40-hour work week. The weekend itself. Lifesaving safety standards. Organized labor has changed our country for the better. This Labor Day, we recognize the achievements of our unions and the workers who make the American way of life possible."
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom: "Labor Day is a reminder of a simple truth: WORKERS built this country. But today, too many Americans are working harder, paying more and falling further behind — while Donald Trump gets richer and hands more wealth to the people at the very top. Working people built America. This November, it’s time to take our country back."
- Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego: "We need to be for a pro-labor, pro-worker agenda. That starts with: Increasing the federal minimum wage from a poverty wage to $20/hr. Doubling the pay for overtime. Requiring overtime pay on federal holidays. Protecting workers' right to bargain for better pay, benefits, and safer workplaces."
- Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan: "The labor movement gave us weekends, 8 hour work days, and ensured that our kids can go to school rather than work. Honored to fight for unions every day. Happy Labor Day to all those who have fought for a fairer economy in the richest country in the world."
Democratic socialist leader and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is an independent – not a member of the Democratic Party – but shared a similar celebration of union workers, posting: "On this Labor Day we give our thanks to the millions of trade unionists in our country who are leading the fight for economic, social and racial justice. Thanks to all of you for what you’re doing. Let’s go forward together."
Contributing: Rachel Barber
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP spends Labor Day touting August jobs, Dems lift up union workers
