Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos shared a cautionary note regarding Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz following the enthusiastic response from American Federation of Teachers (AFT) union president Randi Weingarten, who expressed her approval of his selection to the Democratic ticket.
“Anyone who gets Randi this worked up is a serious concern for parents and students,” DeVos noted on Tuesday via X.
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American Federation of Teachers union president Randi Weingarten cautioned that former President Trump could usher in fascism if re-elected. (AFTHQ YouTube channel)
The former secretary of education in the Trump administration made her remarks in reaction to a video on the AFT X account, where Weingarten expressed her excitement about Harris choosing a “teacher and a union member” for her vice-presidential partner.
“We’re thrilled… We’ve known him for years as a social studies teacher, a veteran, a union member, a congressman, and now as governor. He genuinely cares about working-class families. We’ve witnessed it firsthand,” Weingarten enthusiastically claims in the video. “He knows how to achieve real outcomes. It’s a remarkable day for America, as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz join forces for the future, freedom, opportunity, and American families.”
“I apologize, I’m just so excited,” she added.
As the leader of one of the largest teacher unions in the nation, Weingarten further commended Walz for his initiatives to boost funding for public education in a follow-up message.
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“Congrats @Tim_Walz! His record as governor has been outstanding, featuring record investments in public education, safeguarding reproductive rights, expanding collective bargaining, improving access to affordable childcare, and implementing paid family and medical leave. @KamalaHarris made an excellent choice!” she stated on X.
Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos attends the 45th Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on December 4, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
National Education Association president Becky Pringle also commended Walz as an “outstanding choice.”
“VP @KamalaHarris has once again made an exceptional selection for students and educators with the appointment of the ‘Education Governor’ @GovTimWalz as her running mate. Educators are energized and united,” she wrote. “We recognize that electing the Harris-Walz team is the sole path forward for America.”
Walz, age 60, a former congressman, is currently serving his second term as governor of Minnesota. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard and has a teaching background, which has amplified his role as a strong advocate for Harris in recent weeks. Originally from a small town in Nebraska, he also worked as a football coach and was involved with the teachers’ union before entering the political arena.
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“I am honored to share that I’ve invited @TimWalz to be my running mate,” Harris officially declared on Tuesday via X. “As a governor, coach, teacher, and veteran, he has always stood up for working families.”
Progressives have lauded Walz for his staunch support of unions and his record of successes as governor, which includes cementing abortion rights in the state constitution, initiating universal free school breakfasts and lunches for all students, and establishing Minnesota as a safe haven for children seeking transgender medical services.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, reacts during a House subcommittee inquiry regarding the COVID-19 pandemic on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 26, 2023. (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz)
In 2023, Walz approved a budget to augment funding for Minnesota educational institutions and backed a tuition-free college initiative for families earning below $80,000 annually, as reported by media outlets.
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Walz has faced scrutiny over his COVID-19 management, which included mandatory masking indoors and launching a hotline for reporting individuals who flouted mask regulations, as stated by FOX 9 Minneapolis at the time.
Weingarten has also encountered significant criticism for endorsing stringent pandemic measures and her role in the school closures that adversely affected public school students in the U.S. She has been accused of attempting to shift responsibility for the mismanagement of school closures onto DeVos, Republican lawmakers, and others. DeVos contended that she was trying to “gaslight” the public regarding the situation.
Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been selected as Kamala Harris’ running mate for the 2024 election. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
The AFT president, known for her far-left political views, utilized her union’s recently held convention to emphasize the importance of the upcoming election, warning that if former President Trump returns to power, he could bring about fascism and violence in the U.S.
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“The elections in November will decide the direction of our nation. We can make progress, but we could also see the loss of vital rights and freedoms,” Weingarten expressed. “It is rarely an overt act that paves the way for fascism. The violence often follows later, once they are in power.”
Fox News’ Alexander Hall and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
