The United Auto Workers filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Tesla CEO Elon Musk after the former president advocated for firing striking workers in a live-streamed interview on the social media platform X.

“They go on strike, I won’t mention the name of the company, but they go on strike and you say, ‘That’s OK, you’re all gone,’” Trump said approvingly of Musk’s approach as an employer.

Musk, who also owns X, laughed but did not respond.

The complaint alleges that Trump and Musk violated the National Labor Relations Act, which prohibits firing workers for striking or threatening to do so.

Trump’s comments came as he tries to make inroads with rank-and-file union workers. But most major unions, including the UAW, have endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

“Both Trump and Musk want working-class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.

Politico, Aug. 13