JD Vance Faces Booing During Speech At IAFF Convention

Several crowd members booed Ohio Senator JD Vance as he took the podium to deliver remarks to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) on Thursday. Vance, who is the running mate of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, arrived in Boston to address the large labor union representing full-time professional firefighters and emergency medical workers. This event came just a day after Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz spoke to the same crowd.

As Vance approached the podium, several audible boos echoed through the audience. In a light-hearted manner, he addressed the crowd, saying, "Sounds like we got some fans and some haters, that's OK, let’s listen to what I have to say here, and I’ll make my pitch." This initial response showed his attempt to engage with the audience despite the negative reception.

In his remarks, Vance expressed gratitude towards President Edward Kelly and all IAFF members for their warm welcome, stating, "It is an honor to be here with America’s incredible firefighters, and I’m honored to be here. God bless you guys, and thanks for what you do." This sentiment aimed to resonate with the crowd, emphasizing the importance of their work.

Vance went on to highlight the values that he believes characterize firefighters, stating, "You all are the embodiment of the American spirit: heroic, determined, selfless, hard-working, and tough... I believe you deserve a government that is loyal to you." This statement sought to align him with the values of the audience, reinforcing his commitment to their cause.

He acknowledged the presence of Minnesota Governor Walz, who spoke at the IAFF Convention the previous day, noting, "I respect this union for inviting both sides to take the stage and make the case to all of our membership." His recognition of the other political perspective demonstrated an effort to foster bipartisanship.

On Wednesday, Walz’s IAFF speech emphasized the Democratic Party’s strong ties to organized labor, which has historically been a cornerstone of Democratic support. Meanwhile, the GOP has been increasingly courting labor groups, as evidenced by Teamsters President Sean O’Brien’s speech at the Republican National Convention in July, and United Auto Workers Association President Shawn Fain’s address at the Democratic National Convention the week prior.

Walz highlighted unions' role in building the middle class and, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, pledged to protect firefighters' benefits, compensation, and safety. These commitments are crucial as they address vital issues facing union members.

Vance's speech also included personal stories about his mother’s struggle with addiction and the crucial support firefighters provide to families affected by similar issues, including young Vance at the age of 12. He concluded his anecdote by stating, "You do make a difference; you make a difference every single day, and I thank you for it." This approach not only humanized him but also connected with the audience on a personal level.

Shortly after, Vance transitioned to campaign-related topics, stating, "President Trump and I are proud to be the most pro-worker Republican ticket in history, and I want to talk about why we are fighting for working people, why we are going to fight for unions and non-unions alike." Despite his efforts, this statement drew several boos from the crowd, indicating a mixed reception.

Harris' official campaign account on X, formerly Twitter, shared clips of the audience booing Vance, further amplifying the negative response he received during his speech. One clip captioned, "Vance: Trump and I are proud to be the most pro-worker Republican ticket in history," was followed by the crowd's reaction of "BOOOOOO!"

Vance's communications team opted not to comment on the record regarding this incident. However, the Trump War Room campaign account posted videos capturing moments of applause from the crowd in response to certain agenda items, such as abolishing vaccine mandates.

Vance remarked, "Now I know this is a diverse union; some of you love President Trump and some of you clearly don’t. I’ve heard from both sides just giving this little speech. Now this might come as a shock to ya, but once upon a time I wasn’t a Trump guy either." This candid admission could have aimed to build rapport with the audience.

In closing, Vance assured the audience, "Whether you support us or not, whether you ultimately endorse us or not, President Trump and I believe in our firefighters, we believe in our first responders, and we will never stop fighting for you." This pledge was intended to reinforce his commitment to the firefighting community.

In response to Vance's speech, Sarafina Chitika, a senior spokesperson for the Harris campaign, commented, "JD tried selling firefighters on the Trump-Vance Project 2025 agenda to undermine workers, gut labor protections, and cut overtime pay – and got hosed. This election, workers are fired up to elect Vice President Harris and Governor Walz. They won’t be fooled by Donald Trump or JD Vance’s lies about their plan to undermine unions and America’s middle class."