A United States Post Office clerk went into work the day after the 2024 presidential election wearing Trump attire and was asked to change clothes.
Michelle Albert, 57, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, says she felt “violated and embarrassed” soon after beginning her shift at the distribution center in Warrendale.
“It’s the day after he won,” she says. “You should be able to wear what you want.”
Michelle began her workday like any other. “At 3:00 PM, I clocked in and I was staying there waiting for our pre-sort,” she recalls.
“My MDO [manager, distribution operations] walked up to me. She came charging out of the office and she came right up to me and pointed at me. And she said, ‘You can’t wear that here.’ I said, ‘Why can’t I? The election is over. Trump won.’”
Despite her reasoning, Michelle’s manager insisted, “You have to turn your shirt inside out.”
Unwilling to comply, Michelle made a choice. “I said, ‘No, I’m not turning my shirt inside out.’ She said, ‘Well then you can’t be here.’ So I turned around to the clock, clocked out, and left.”
Michelle states that her manager incorrectly referenced the Hatch Act — a U.S. federal law that limits civil-service employees in the executive branch, except for the president and vice president, from engaging in certain political activities.
Michelle, who describes herself as a proud Trump supporter, felt singled out and discriminated against. “I was celebrating Trump, and other people, after Biden became president, they wore Biden shirts, and nothing was said to them. There’s a guy that used to wear Obama shirts there, and nothing gets said to them,” she explains.
For Michelle, it wasn’t just the demand to remove her attire, but the way it was handled in front of her colleagues. “I just felt that I was violated and embarrassed because she did it in front of everybody,” she shares.
“There were a whole bunch of coworkers that backed me up. She is crazy. I didn’t go to work the next day. I didn’t sleep at all that night,” she admits. “I don’t know if I’m going back to work there.”
Michelle, like many others, feels that Trump represents a hopeful path forward for the country. “I’m definitely happy Trump won the election. My son and daughter-in-law were standing right in front of him at the rally when he got shot up in Butler,” she says.
Along with her son, Billy, 31, and his wife, Krystan, 32, Michelle has two other children, James, 37, and Sarah, 38 — all big Trump supporters. Her fiance, Tim, 61, also supports the president elect.
“We support Trump because he makes America great. We had a very wonderful four years when he was president, and I just believe in him.”
For Michelle, Trump’s leadership offers a solution to the issues she sees in her community. “I want him to get rid of the people that are coming over here illegally and make it so we can live — not paycheck to paycheck,” she explains.
Michelle’s family has been personally affected by the ongoing drug crisis, which she believes Trump will address.
“I lost a niece to a drug overdose, and it’s got to stop,” she says. “It’s scary that you can’t even go to the grocery or to the store anymore. We’ve got to get rid of these people coming over the border.”
As for her job, Michelle is still deciding her next steps. But one thing is clear — she stands by her decision to support Trump. “He’s a wonderful person, that’s all I can say.”
The United States Post Office in Warrendale, Pennsylvania stated that employees are prohibited from wearing attire related to elections while on duty.
