Exclusive: Republican Sen. Josh Hawley rips AI "cheerleaders," backs Teamsters union agenda
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Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) speaks during a Senate hearing on June 17. Photo: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) blasted AI giants — including Amazon — and touted his support for key union priorities in a speech Tuesday at the closed-door Teamsters national convention in Las Vegas, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: A Republican featured as a speaker at a Teamsters event serves as a stark illustration of how the political lines are blurring for Big Labor, once a dependable political ally for the left.
- It also comes amid growing bipartisan momentum for Hawley's Faster Labor Contracts Act, which passed the House last week and would bar employers from dragging out collective bargaining talks.
Driving the news: Hawley told the Teamsters that "mega corporations" have "lost their moral compass" and that he supports the labor movement because unionized workers deserve fair wages and "decent working conditions," according to a copy of his speech obtained by Axios. Hawley:
- Argued that the Faster Labor Contracts Act is needed to "speed up first contracts for new unions" and said his Christian faith backs up his belief in unions.
- Endorsed the Teamsters' position that Congress should pass legislation barring self-driving trucks from replacing commercial drivers.
- Ripped Amazon as "the biggest monopolist in the country," saying it's treating workers as "indentured servants."
- Slammed "AI cheerleaders" as corporate goons who "want to replace every job they can with an algorithm" and said "we need to give workers rights over AI in the workplace."
The big picture: Hawley has been one of the most vocal Republican advocates on Capitol Hill for Big Labor's agenda and an anti-AI voice.
- He visited the picket line during the 2023 UAW strike against GM, Ford and Stellantis and has worked with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and others on the Faster Labor Contracts Act.
The other side: Amazon reps did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Hawley's remarks.
- Self-driving car advocates say that the technology will improve safety, boost the economy and help an industry that's already short on truck drivers.
Zoom in: Hawley received "rousing applause" from Teamster members and delegates, Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz told Axios.
- She said the union welcomes Hawley as an ally in its push to "make it so that corporations cannot indefinitely drag out and delay negotiations as workers exercise their federally protected right to organize."
- She noted that multiple Democratic supporters of Big Labor also made appearances at the once-every-five-years convention, including Booker and Rep. Ro Khanna of California. Booker, Khanna and Hawley are also considered possible 2028 presidential candidates.
- They all got "a really good reaction from the crowd," Deniz said.
The intrigue: Hawley's alliance with the Teamsters showcases the shifting political sands for Big Labor in Washington.
- Teamsters president Sean O'Brien — a former ally of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — startled Democrats in 2024 when he delivered a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention.
- O'Brien has since grown closer to President Trump and endorsed elements of his economic agenda. He was reelected this week to another five-year term as president of the union without substantial opposition.
The bottom line: The union movement is not a political monolith.
