Feb. 1 (UPI) — President Joe Biden will visit Detroit on Thursday to attend a campaign event alongside members of the United Auto Workers following a major endorsement from the union last week as Biden seeks a second term.
The president is scheduled to leave the White House shortly before noon Thursday before landing in Detroit at 1:35 p.m. EST.
More than two hours later, Biden will appear at the UAW campaign event beginning at 3:45 p.m.
The White House did not release any other details about the visit.
Last week’s endorsement by UAW President Shawn Fain came the same day that Biden delivered the keynote address at the UAW’s national conference in Washington on Jan. 24.
The backing from more than 400,000 union members is expected to exert significant influence in Michigan, a swing state that Biden narrowly won in 2020.
Biden’s visit comes a little more than three weeks before the Michigan presidential primary on Feb. 27.
Previously, Biden said he was proud to have the union’s support and to give them his in return.
He emphasized gains for labor during his presidency, including billions of dollars in new investments in advanced manufacturing to build electric vehicles.
Last September, Biden joined a UAW picket line at the General Motors Willow Run Redistribution Center outside Detroit, becoming the first president in history to protest alongside striking workers.
The strike, which coincided with other labor walkouts across the country, came as union members sought a better pay deal in negotiations with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.
The union ratified a new contract with the Big Three automakers in November, with terms including raises of at least 25% within 5 years.
Earlier in his term, Biden attended the 2022 Detroit Auto Show to promote his legislative efforts to promote electric vehicle manufacturing.
Notably, the show featured the rollout of the “farewell edition” of the Chrysler 300, a large-model sedan that runs on gasoline — demonstrating the auto industry’s commitment to help the United States meet international climate goals while boosting jobs in high-tech manufacturing.
The president’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has also provided billions of dollars in investments to help carmakers transition away from fossil fuels.