The New York City firefighter unions are facing a painful dose of karma after learning the hard way about the consequences of supporting Donald Trump. On Sunday, they found themselves outside Engine Co. 10/Ladder Co. 10 near Ground Zero, calling on Congress to restore funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, which aids over 130,000 first responders and survivors of 9/11-related illnesses. The program had been part of a bipartisan plan but was ultimately derailed by Trump and his online ally, Elon Musk.
Ironically, many of these firefighter unions were vocal Trump supporters during his “Make America Great Again” campaign. However, it appears that “greatness” doesn’t include prioritizing the health of first responders. Despite Trump’s promises to honor 9/11 heroes, the unions are now discovering that his rhetoric was empty and his actions don’t match his words.
Union leaders are trying to shift blame to “partisan politics” and remain hopeful that Trump will change his stance. James Brosi, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, expressed disbelief that, after 23 years, they’re still fighting for this funding. However, there’s little sympathy online, with many pointing out the irony of the unions’ situation. On X (formerly Twitter), the sentiment of “they got what they voted for” is spreading quickly. The unions’ support for Trump has come full circle in a painful reminder that loyalty to politicians who have consistently undermined social programs often leads to betrayal.
In the face of this betrayal, the unions have pledged to continue fighting, but their realization of what Trump truly stands for will likely serve as a harsh lesson about the risks of aligning with politicians who prioritize loyalty to their own agendas over the well-being of those they once promised to support.
