US President Joe Biden has joined a picket line with striking car workers in Michigan, backing their call for a 40% pay raise and telling them they deserve a "lot more" than they are getting.
Mr Biden's appearance, the first visit by a US president to striking workers in modern history, comes a day before Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for president, will speak to car workers in Michigan.
The rare back-to-back events highlight the importance of union support in the 2024 presidential election, even though unions represent a tiny fraction of US workers.
Democrat Biden travelled to a Belleville, Michigan, parts distribution centre owned by General Motors, and joined dozens of picketers outside.
"Companies were in trouble, now they're doing incredibly well. And guess what? You should be doing incredibly well, too," Mr Biden said through a bullhorn.
"Stick with it."
He was referring to a 2009 government bailout of US automakers that included wage cuts.
"You deserve what you've earned. And you’ve earned a hell of a lot more than what you’re getting paid now," he said.
Asked if he supported the 40% increase the union had asked for, Mr Biden said simply: "Yes."
Flanked by Secret Service agents, Mr Biden exchanged fist bumps and took selfies with the crowd after he spoke as the John Mellencamp song 'Small Town’ played in the background.
Mr Trump will address hundreds of workers at a gathering at a car supplier in a Detroit suburb tomorrow. The supplier, Drake Enterprises, is a non-union manufacturer, according to a spokesman at the AFL-CIO. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Republicans believe Mr Biden's push to electrify America's vehicle fleet, by pumping billions of dollars of tax rebates into EV manufacturing, is unpopular with car workers.
In a statement, Mr Trump accused Mr Biden of "stabbing" autoworkers in the back. Mr Biden's EV mandate, he said, will "annihilate" the US auto industry and cost "thousands of autoworkers their jobs."
UAW President Shawn Fain greeted Mr Biden at the airport and handed the president a black UAW baseball cap. He also joined Mr Biden at the picket line.
Calling Mr Biden's visit a "historic moment in time," Mr Fain accused CEOs of taking the profits and leaving workers to "fight for scraps."
"Thank you Mr President for coming to stand up with us," Mr Fain said.
"We know the president will do right by the working class."
The UAW also encouraged non-UAW workers to join local picket lines in support of the "historic" presidential visit.
The union is not involved with Mr Trump's visit and Mr Fain does not plan to attend that event, a source added.
To date, the UAW has declined to support either 2024 presidential candidate, making it the only major union not to back Mr Biden.
Both candidates are expected to sharpen their 2024 campaign message in Michigan. When asked what it will take for the UAW to endorse Mr Biden, the president said he is not worried about that.
"We are a long way from the general election, but it sure feels like the general election," said Dave Urban, a Republican strategist who previously worked for Mr Trump.
UAW workers this month began targetted strikes against GM, Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis seeking wage rises to match CEO pay jumps, shorter work weeks and job security as the industry moves toward electric vehicles.
