Donald Trump Jr.‘s name is being floated as a potential political candidate but the President’s eldest son just lost one constituency Monday night.
Speaking in El Paso, Texas to warm up the crowd for his father’s “Make America Great Again” rally, Trump Jr. decided to attack teachers, and many Americans are outraged.
DJTJ, as Donald Trump Jr. is often called, is closely aligned with Turning Point USA, which bills itself as a conservative organization focused on college students. Its founder, Charlie Kirk, often appears at Trump rallies and DJTJ has spoken at TPUSA rallies. TPUSA’s communications director, Candace Owens, was accused last week of defending Hitler.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that the President’s son would focus his attention on school-age conservatives, but his remarks inspired some to suggest he is the one in need of an education.
“You know what I love?” Trump Jr. asked the crowd in El Paso. “I love seeing some young conservatives, ’cuz I know it’s not easy,” he said, reinforcing the Trump family’s theme that conservatives are marginalized victims.
“Keep up that fight, bring it to your schools. You don’t have to be indoctrinated by these loser teachers that are trying to sell you on socialism from birth. You don’t have to do it,” he told the audience.
.@DonaldJTrumpJr's message to young conservatives: "Keep up that fight. Bring it to your schools. You don't have to be indoctrinated by these loser teachers that are trying to sell you on socialism from birth." pic.twitter.com/IGzyK48Ilp
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2019
Many on social media took offense to the President’s son’s attack on educators, many if not most of whom endure low-salaries, are forced to buy classroom supplies with their own money, and suffer extreme disrespect from the right. As one person on Twitter asked, “The same teachers who we expect to put their bodies in front of our kids if a shooter comes in their classroom?”
At least one teachers’ union responded:
Donald Trump Jr. called teachers “losers” today. Must mean we’re doing something right. https://t.co/uRLJHgWFrP
— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) February 12, 2019
The number of people online citing Trump Jr.’s “loser teachers” remark was massive. Here’s a small sampling:
@DonaldJTrumpJr – I am one of those “loser teachers” and I will do more good in the next five days in my classroom than you will do in the rest of your sorry life. You are the broken progeny of a failure of a father. Try breaking the cycle and being your own man. #beBetter https://t.co/kf1Jp2GfkY
— defnotjennifer (@defnotjennifer) February 12, 2019
-Every single thing he says is an insanity-level lie.
-Don Jr. calling teachers losers is straight heartbreaking.
-SMH right off https://t.co/SRAoxDyJIX— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) February 12, 2019
"Loser teachers."
Somebody needs to go back to school. Assclown. https://t.co/UFW6nvzB5j
— Craig Newman (@craignewman) February 12, 2019
Like father, like son: “I love the poorly educated," @realDonaldTrump “You don’t have to be indoctrinated by these loser teachers,” @DonaldJTrumpJr. #LoserTeachers #ElPasoRally
— Capitol Comments (@CapitolComments) February 12, 2019
Would that he’d paid enough attention to the “loser teachers” to know whether to use ‘who’ or ‘that’.
— Donna Leinwand Leger (@DonnaLeinwand) February 12, 2019
He called them "loser teachers."
Raise your hand if you know an amazing teacher who smashes that insult to pieces. 🖐️#LifesavingTeachers #teachers #education https://t.co/QMn9k4utyn
— Jess Phoenix 🌋 (@jessphoenix2018) February 12, 2019
“loser teachers” reveals more about Don Jr. than he realizes https://t.co/29r4dJUwPx
— Mark Follman (@markfollman) February 12, 2019
Loser teachers. Nice.
I am a first year teacher. I have to buy my own supplies for my students to even have the basics to learn. I am too busy trying to get them ready for the next grade and worrying about where we are getting our next box of glue to indoctrinate them.
— ❤️ (@IamAwarriorsFan) February 12, 2019
Sure, call all educators "losers". You just show what an uneducated prick you are. But of course the @GOP would want their platform to ridicule education. It is much easier to control those that are dumb. Case in point, the dumb inbred idiots cheering his disrespect of teachers. https://t.co/UWz4rqyVTK
— David H Thornton (@DavidHThornton) February 12, 2019
Honestly, the millions of American public school “loser teachers” contribute more to society in one school day than this pathetic sleazeball has in his entire life. https://t.co/aNEoK3W9H1
— Houston (@starkid_wheeler) February 12, 2019
“Loser teachers”…..my god. We are so much better than this. Our children deserve so much better. #ElPaso https://t.co/bQyvWbNhTM
— Tonya Kelley (@TonyaKelleyTK) February 12, 2019
“Loser teachers”
I can’t use the words I want to describe my rage right now, lest I end up in Twitter jail.
Educators pour their whole selves into their profession. They go above & beyond every single day. They don’t deserve this ill treatment from a grifter son of a grifter.💔 https://t.co/FnaE33rGbv— Kristin Karnitz (@KristinKarnitz) February 12, 2019
Hi, @DonaldJTrumpJr. I’m a teacher, and most of my friends are teachers. They are intelligent, selfless, innovative, compassionate, and inspiring. The last thing I would call any of us is “loser teachers.” Teachers are heroes. #BeBest https://t.co/hdztoHhrsD
— Erin Parker (@erin_d_parker) February 12, 2019
Loser teacher here.
It's true I dont make a lot of money, but I earned it on my own (with the help of some loser socialist teachers at the University.)
At least I never had to ask my daddy for a pardon. #loserteachers https://t.co/uZ3fXC0Jq5
— ICE is trafficking children (@Mccallforall) February 12, 2019
#LoserTeachers here, being a loser. Teaching about journalism, writing process, marketing, graphic design, literary analysis, rhetoric, suffrage and equality, environmentalism, workers’ rights, local and American history…you know. Loser stuff. 📚📝 pic.twitter.com/UINTTq3wXq
— Angie Smoorenburg Garrett (@fleurdeginger) February 12, 2019
At the MAGA KKK hate rally yesterday in El Paso, Trash Jr hobbled onto that tacky stage and called teachers losers. The cult cheered it on. Their only message is hate.
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) February 12, 2019
Teachers don’t indoctrinate students into socialism, @DonaldJTrumpJr. They make sure their students don’t end up ignorant, treasonous losers who care only about themselves and would let the world burn just to make a dollar. You clearly didn’t pay attention in class. Jerk.
— Dina Ley (@dinachka82) February 12, 2019
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER