Critics slammed American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on Thursday after she attacked Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis during Wednesday’s GOP debate, saying he was a ‘disaster’ for education in Florida .
“DeSantis has been an education disaster. They ban history, they ban books, ban AP psychology and have a terrible shortage of teachers. No one should take his advice on schools,” Weingarten posted on X, formerly known. like Twitter.
Critics quickly dismissed Weingarten’s claims, accusing him of trying to keep schools closed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, reacts before the House Special Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
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Weingarten testified before the House Special Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in April to address his union’s role in influencing public policy on school closings.
She alleged that President Biden’s transition team was the first to contact his union for advice on school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weingarten has been repeatedly criticized for her stance on school closures throughout the pandemic.
Florida GOP Vice Chairman Evan Power reacted to Weingarten’s claims and said she had been an “educational disaster.”
“She wanted kids kicked out of schools and made to wear masks. Learning losses start and end with her,” he wrote.
Ron DeSantis during the first GOP debate Wednesday night in Milwaukee. (FoxNews)
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“People who banned *school* have no right to talk about it,” another wrote in response to Weingarten. The AFT chair wrote a forceful letter to her critics in the Wall Street Journal, which in 2022 published an op-ed titled “Randi Weingarten misses the pandemic.”
“This tweet was brought to you by the lady who enthusiastically supported the ban…of check notes…the school itself,” wrote author and podcast host Mary Katharine Ham.
“She is still angry that she could not force the closure of schools in Florida and that she could only hurt poor children in the blue zones”, replied Karol Markowicz.
Others argued it was strong support for DeSantis, who during Wednesday’s Republican debate criticized former President Donald Trump’s handling of COVID-19.
DeSantis said he would have fired presidential adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the White House during the Trump administration.
“Why are we in this mess? Part and a lot of it has to do with how this federal government has handled COVID-19 by locking down the economy,” DeSantis said during the debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addresses voters in Iowa (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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Fox News’ Jessica Chasmar contributed to this report.
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