JD Vance booed by firefighter union audience after Walz's appeal to same group
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Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance speaks at a rally on Aug. 28 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, was booed by a firefighters union audience before his speech at their conference on Thursday.
Why it matters: Vance's speech in Boston was a day after Democratic VP nominee Gov. Tim Walz appealed to the same crowd as both tickets vie for the holdout labor union's endorsement.
- "Semper fi, guys. Sounds like we've got some fans and some haters," Vance said after he was greeted by a mix of boos and cheers while approaching the podium at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) conference.
- "That's OK, listen to what I have to say here and I'll make my pitch."
Catch up quick: In his Wednesday speech, Walz highlighted the Democratic ticket's record on labor rights.
- Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz have been endorsed by the United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers, the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
- The Milwaukee Police Association and the International Union of Police Associations have endorsed the Trump-Vance ticket.
- The IAFF has yet to endorse either candidate, and it's unclear when — or if — they will do so.
Between the lines: Despite initial boos from the crowd, Vance received applause during his speech when he celebrated the work firefighters do and told a story about firefighters saving his mother during her struggle with addiction.
- He was booed again, though, when he said that he and Trump are "proud to be the most pro-worker Republican ticket in history."
Zoom out: Vance and Walz's speeches at the same conference is just the latest example of the two presidential campaigns playing tag in their campaign appearances.
- Earlier this month, Harris held a rally inside Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum where Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination weeks before.
- Vance, Harris and Walz were all briefly on the same Wisconsin airport tarmac while all three were traveling to campaign events.
- "I just wanted to check out my future plane," Vance joked, according to AP, referencing Air Force Two, which Harris was traveling on. "I also wanted to go say hello to the vice president and ask her why she refuses to answer questions from the media."
Go deeper: "Divide and conquer": How Vance helped Trump make amends in Georgia
Editor's note: This story was updated to include additional information and context from Vance's speech.
