Joe Biden creates historical moment by participating in UAW strike

US President Joe Biden has shown support for striking car workers in Michigan by visiting their picket line, which is a first for a sitting US president. During his visit, Biden stated that the workers deserve raises and other concessions they are seeking. However, some workers expressed concerns that the visit might politicize the strike and urged both Biden and his potential challenger, Donald Trump, to stay away. Nevertheless, Biden emphasized that the workers should be doing as well as the companies they work for. While it is common for US lawmakers and presidential candidates to express solidarity with American workers during strikes, it is unprecedented for a sitting president to do so. The visit took place as the United Auto Workers (UAW) declared a strike against major car companies Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis for improved pay and conditions. The White House clarified that it was not directly involved in the negotiations but intended for Biden's visit to show support for the car workers. Meanwhile, Trump criticized Biden's visit as a PR stunt to divert attention from other issues. Overall, the visits by both Biden and Trump reflect the significance of the Rust Belt region and its blue-collar workers in the upcoming election.