‘DEVASTATING BLOW’: Former President Donald Trump’s campaign roasted Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday over the International Association of Fire Fighters’ decision not to endorse her for president.

In a heated political exchange on Friday, former President Donald Trump’s campaign seized on a major setback for Vice President Kamala Harris after the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) announced it would not endorse her for president in the upcoming 2024 election. The IAFF, one of the largest and most influential labor unions in the United States, has long been a key player in presidential endorsements, and their decision to withhold support from Harris is being viewed as a significant blow to her political standing.

Trump’s team wasted no time capitalizing on the IAFF’s decision, branding it a “devastating blow” to the Vice President’s campaign and questioning her viability as a candidate in 2024. “Kamala Harris can’t even get the endorsement of the hardworking men and women of the IAFF—this tells you everything you need to know about her lack of leadership and appeal,” Trump’s campaign manager, Susan Wiles, said in a statement. “If she can’t even secure support from the people who risk their lives to protect us every day, what does that say about her ability to lead this country?”

The IAFF’s decision not to endorse Harris has raised eyebrows in political circles, particularly given her close ties to organized labor during her tenure as Vice President. The union, which has endorsed Democratic candidates in past elections, had yet to announce its official endorsement for 2024. However, reports indicate that Harris failed to garner the necessary support within the organization to secure the coveted nod.

The decision marks a sharp contrast to the enthusiasm surrounding her vice-presidential campaign in 2020, when labor unions rallied behind her and Joe Biden in a bid to oust former President Trump from office. Critics of Harris, however, have long pointed to her perceived inability to connect with working-class voters and her struggles to appeal to key Democratic constituencies as contributing factors to her difficulty in securing endorsements this time around.

Trump’s campaign, ever adept at turning setbacks into opportunities, has used the IAFF’s decision to further underscore their narrative that Harris is an ineffective and unfit candidate for the presidency. “Kamala Harris is a political liability. She’s weak, out of touch, and unable to rally the people who matter most,” added Wiles. “The American people deserve strong leadership, not someone who can’t even get the backing of firefighters.”

While the IAFF’s endorsement is not the only factor that will determine Harris’ path in the 2024 race, it is undoubtedly a significant moment in a highly competitive Democratic primary. Harris, who is widely expected to seek the Democratic nomination alongside President Joe Biden, now faces increased pressure to solidify her base of support within key labor unions and other influential Democratic groups.

For now, the Trump campaign appears to have seized a prime opportunity to undermine Harris’ political prospects, throwing the full weight of their messaging behind the notion that she is simply not up to the task of leading the nation. As the 2024 election season heats up, the fallout from this missed endorsement may continue to haunt the Vice President as she fights to secure her place on the Democratic ticket.