The specific six words Donald Trump told Teamsters President Sean O’Brien before his RNC speech aren’t documented in available reporting. However, O’Brien’s convention appearance marked a historic break from union tradition, with the Teamsters leader praising Trump as “one tough SOB” after the assassination attempt against him.

O’Brien used his prime-time platform to blast corporate giants like Amazon and “big money” lobbyists, while noting growing alignment with Republicans like Trump and J.D. Vance on economic nationalism. His speech emphasized putting “American workers first” through tough negotiations – a message resonating with Trump’s “America First” branding.

The union boss faced fierce backlash from Democrats and progressive groups for sharing the RNC stage. O’Brien dismissed critics, declaring “I don’t care about getting criticized” for pursuing bipartisan deals. His appearance reflected Trump’s courtship of blue-collar voters through anti-establishment rhetoric.

While the exact pre-speech exchange remains undisclosed, O’Brien’s remarks celebrated Trump’s resilience after the shooting, calling him a fighter who “proven to be one tough SOB.” The Teamsters president framed his convention speech as a defense of workers against corporate elites – a theme central to Trump’s populist pitch.

The unprecedented alliance signals how some labor leaders now view Trump’s trade policies and immigration crackdowns as better for union jobs than Biden’s green energy agenda. O’Brien’s speech avoided traditional GOP issues like right-to-work laws, instead focusing on shared distrust of Wall Street and Washington insiders.

This controversial partnership underscores the political realignments reshaping 2024. As Democrats lose ground with working-class voters, Trump’s team sees an opening to peel off union support through nationalist economics and raw populist appeals. O’Brien’s fiery convention moment may foreshadow more labor defections to the GOP.

The Teamsters haven’t endorsed either candidate, but O’Brien’s RNC star turn – and his warm words for Trump – reveal deepening fractures in labor’s Democratic allegiance. With both men positioning themselves as anti-elite warriors, their alliance could redefine blue-collar politics for years to come.