American Federation of Teachers boss Randi Weingarten has been ripped as an “unhinged lunatic” after she delivered a wild, political rally-style speech suggesting that former President Donald Trump was an “existential threat” to democracy.
The teacher’s union president screamed and shouted at her members as she warned of looming violence and fascism if Trump wins the 2024 election when she took to the stage during the AFT’s annual convention in Houston, Texas on Monday.
“The November elections will determine which path we take as a nation. Progress is indeed possible, but so is the eradication of the rights and freedoms we hold dear,” the union boss declared in her lengthy speech.
“Historians … who study threats to democracy and how fascists come to power conclude that it is seldom a dramatic event or attack that lets fascism in the door. The violence comes later after they are voted in,” she continued.
“Voting is still our best defense against tyranny and fascism.”
At one point, a fired-up Weingarten appeared to jump and down on stage as she continued to rant into the microphone.
“When the history books are written about this moment, let them record that we the people united, mobilized and voted down this existential threat to democracy and freedom,” she shouted.
“That we continued the march for progress, that we laid the foundation for a better future and that we sought to create a more perfect union. Progress is possible. Keep marching.”
Flailing her arms about, Weingarten then continued: “Imagine a country where hate has no harbor and freedom rings. The freedom to vote. To live, to breathe. The freedom to marry. The freedom for families to make reproductive choices. The freedom to read. The freedom to teach and the freedom to join a union.”
Footage of the bombastic speech quickly started circulating on social media as critics slammed her as “deranged.”
“Just days after he was shot in an attempted [assassination], Randi Weingarten suggests Trump is an ‘existential threat to democracy and freedom’ and that he’s a violent, tyrannical, fascist. Is this what ‘toning it down’ looks like? Deranged,” the Libs of TikTok account tweeted.
“Unhinged lunatic,” Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children, posted alongside a clip of Weingarten’s rant.
Others, too, piled in.
“Is the fascism in the room with you right now, @rweingarten? Make no mistake… they want to see another (successful) attempt on Trump’s life. Do some burpees, Randi,” one person griped.
“Americans should be more fearful of power and influence that the unhinged president of the AFT (and the NEA) have over the indoctrination of their children,” another posted on X.