WATCH: JD Vance gets booed at firefighters' union conference, calls them 'haters'

JD Vance spoke at the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) conference just a day after Tim Walz's appearance there
PUBLISHED AUG 29, 2024
Sen JD Vance continued with his speech at the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) conference despite getting criticized at the beginning (Getty Images)
Sen JD Vance continued with his speech at the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) conference despite getting criticized at the beginning (Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Senator JD Vance (R-OH) did not receive the warmest reception during his speech at the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) conference in Boston on Thursday, August 29.

He spoke to the group just a day after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's IAFF speech. Vance attempted to position himself and former president Donald Trump as Republicans who stand apart from previous GOP administrations.



 

JD Vance attempts to pitch himself and Donald Trump as pro-worker

The GOP vice presidential candidate took the stage after being introduced by Rep Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), where he was met with a mix of boos and cheers from the audience, Raw Story noted.

Harris' campaign also shared the video captioning it, "JD Vance calls audience 'haters' as he is booed at firefighters union conference."



 

Despite the less-than-welcoming reception, Vance remained composed and addressed the audience, saying, "Semper fi, guys. Sounds like we've got some fans and we've got some haters, that's okay! Listen to what I have to say here, and I'll make my pitch."

During his speech, Vance focused on promoting the blue-collar credentials of both himself and Trump.

"President Trump and I are proud to be the most pro-worker Republican ticket in history, and I want to talk about why we're fighting for working people, why we're going to fight for unions and non-union alike," Vance said, affirming his commitment to both union and non-union workers.

JD Vance and Tim Walz's comparison: 'A Tale of Two Campaigns'

Following JD Vance's speech, fan reactions began pouring in on social media, with some users drawing comparisons between the receptions of Vance and Tim Walz at the conference.

"A Tale of Two Campaigns. 1. Tim Walz cheered by firefighters. 2. JD Vance booed by firefighters," one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, sharing combined video clips of both political figures.



 

Despite the boos, some fans shared clips from the beginning of Vance's speech, showing moments when the audience cheered for him.



 

Internet reacts to JD Vance's remarks as he's booed at IAFF conference

The mixed reception of JD Vance's speech also sparked various reactions online.

One user commented on X, saying, "'Fans and haters' are just called 'voters.'" Another remarked, "Ladies and gentleman. I present to you Mr. Awkward! I caution you, he will say anything for votes!"

Some reactions supported Vance's approach, with one user writing, "Good for JD Vance and Tim Walz understand what those firefighters go through."

Another person mocked, "Not embarrassing—he acknowledges fans and haters like a normal person instead of erasing/changing all of his old policy positions like Kamala."



 



 



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

MORE STORIES

Top officials in the Trump administration discussed invoking the Insurrection Act, which allows the president to deploy military forces on US soil
23 minutes ago
Gavin Newsom rejected the bipartisan bill, calling it too costly and warning it could disrupt how California determines firefighter pay
19 hours ago
The vote comes as California’s education agencies face a US Department of Justice lawsuit over alleged Title IX violations in girls’ sports
20 hours ago
Donald Trump took aim at Sen Richard Blumenthal after his tense face-off with Attorney General Pam Bondi during a congressional hearing
22 hours ago
Dick Durbin pressed Pam Bondi to justify sending troops to Illinois, accusing the Justice Department of hiding key information from the public
1 day ago
The comedian dubbed Chuck Schumer 'Hack-ie Mason', and then went on a rant against Democratic leadership in general
1 day ago
Trump promised America’s men and women in uniform that their pay is safe despite the government shutdown
2 days ago
The stipend is part of measures taken by the Trump administration to reduce illegal immigrants in US
4 days ago
The directive followed Donald Trump’s August 2025 executive order instructing law enforcement and military to immediately arrest flag burners
4 days ago
Sen Roger Marshall introduced the Passport Sanity Act to end gender-neutral passports citing security and Trump-era precedent
6 days ago