The United Auto Workers (UAW) have taken legal action against former President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, labeling them as "disgraced billionaires" and alleging that they attempted to threaten and intimidate striking workers during a conversation on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The UAW's filing of federal labor charges comes after a "rambling, disorganized conversation" between Trump and Musk, which was broadcast live to over a million listeners.

During their conversation on Monday, Trump advocated for the illegal firing of striking workers, stating, "You want to quit? They go on strike...and you say, 'That's OK, you're all gone.' " The UAW, which has been seeking to organize nonunion Tesla, highlighted that under federal law, workers cannot be dismissed for participating in a strike, and threatening such action is illegal under the National Labor Relations Act.

While Musk chuckled at Trump's comments, his silence makes it challenging for the NLRB to hold him accountable for making illegal threats towards his employees. Wilma Liebman, former chair of the National Labor Relations Board under President Barack Obama, suggested that Musk's lack of response could complicate efforts to establish his liability.

UAW President Shawn Fain criticized both Trump and Musk for their actions, stating that they "stand against everything our union stands for." Fain, who has had public disagreements with Trump in the past, emphasized that Trump consistently sides with billionaires like Musk over working-class individuals. Fain further accused both Trump and Musk of wanting workers to "sit down and shut up" while laughing about their actions openly.

In response to the UAW's legal action, Brian Hughes, a senior advisor for Trump's campaign, dismissed the charges as a political stunt. Hughes claimed that "Democrat special interest bosses" are attempting to undermine Trump's support among American workers. He highlighted Trump's achievements in strengthening the economy and delivering results for the forgotten men and women of America, asserting that he will continue to do so upon his re-election on November 5th. Hughes also criticized Democratic nominee Kamala Harris for her support of the Biden administration's policies promoting electric vehicle adoption.

Following the UAW's filing of charges, Tesla faced its own legal challenge with an unfair labor practice charge received by Region 32-Oakland, which covers parts of California and Nevada. Meanwhile, Region 5 office, responsible for overseeing Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and three other states, received a similar charge against Donald J. Trump for President Inc., located in Arlington, Virginia.

NLRB spokeswoman Kayla Blado confirmed that both charges have been received and are currently under investigation. The UAW's actions highlight their commitment to protecting workers' rights and addressing any illegal attempts to undermine their efforts.