AFT President Randi Weingarten Condemns JD Vance's Comments on Teachers

AFT President Randi Weingarten Responds to JD Vance's Comments on Teachers

WASHINGTON—Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has issued a statement addressing recent comments made by JD Vance. Vance has come under scrutiny for his remarks about educators and modern families.

Weingarten stated, “JD Vance says he is disoriented and disturbed by people who devote their lives to teaching children and who don’t have children of their own.”

She highlighted her previous response to Vance’s 2021 comments, which can be viewed here.

Weingarten criticized Vance for intensifying his stance, suggesting that such political attacks are unwelcome in educational settings. She emphasized that educators, parents, and children desire an engaging and nurturing environment, especially with the new school year commencing.

“It sure seems like Vance lacks an empathy gene—thank goodness he’s not a teacher. He doesn’t get that you don’t have to be a parent to care about kids, our neighbors, our communities and our country,” Weingarten added.

Weingarten contrasted Vance’s approach with the actions of AFT educators nationwide, who focus on solution-driven initiatives such as distributing 10 million books to children, implementing free meal programs, supporting community schools, and establishing career pathways in sectors like advanced manufacturing and healthcare.

She remarked that if Vance had engaged more with communities in Ohio, he would have witnessed these efforts firsthand in cities like Cleveland, Medina, Toledo, New Lexington, and Cincinnati.

“Teachers want what children need. I am blessed to be a mom by marriage, but it’s irrelevant to whether any of us care about children. This week, as teachers are digging into their pockets to pay for school supplies and welcoming kids and parents into their classrooms, we should all be celebrating the hope and promise of a new school year, not trashing it with gross, ridiculous comments like Vance’s,” Weingarten said.

She urged Vance to focus on supporting educators and school staff instead of making it harder for them to perform their duties, concluding with, “Shame on JD Vance.”

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The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.