AFT’s Weingarten Responds to Mike Pompeo’s Latest Claim that She Is the ‘Most Dangerous Person in the United States’ (Previously ‘the World’)

WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after Mike Pompeo published an op-ed in the New York Post backtracking on previous claims that she is the most dangerous person in the world and challenging her to a debate:

“While I’m glad that the former secretary of state no longer equates me with the heinous dictators and tyrants of the world, it would have been better if he showed some contrition for calling what public school teachers do every day to teach and uplift children, ‘filth.’

“When it mattered, Pompeo never showed any interest in education issues when he was head of the State Department—unlike previous secretaries. Even his Cabinet colleague, Betsy DeVos, toured public schools with me in Ohio.

“If he wants to engage in a real discussion about what children need to thrive, how to strengthen public education, or the importance of treating teachers with respect, fine with me, but I will not be a prop for Mr. Pompeo’s presidential ambitions.”