JD Vance Puts Washington Elites On Blast For ‘Forcing’ College On Americans At Expense Of Skilled Trades

Vice President J.D. Vance eviscerated elites in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday during a speech in Pennsylvania for pushing Americans to attend college rather than giving them the opportunity to “work with [their] hands.”

During a speech where he touted the “Big, Beautiful Act,” Vance called for young Americans to have the opportunity to choose their own career paths rather than feel pressured to attend a four-year college and accrue massive debt. The average federal student loan debt amounts to $37,853 per borrower, and it takes borrowers approximately 20 years to pay off their debts, according to the Education Data Initiative.

“Why is it that we force every single young person to get a big chunk of debt at a four-year college or university? Why don’t we give our young people more options, because if we did, a lot of them would come and work at Don’s Machine Shop. And that would be good for them and it would be good for American workers,” Vance said. “You know, we think it’s fine. If you want to go to college, go to college. There’s a lot of opportunity out there. But if you want to work with your hands. If you want to build something, if you want to build a house, build a bridge, make one of these incredible orders that comes in from this small business right here in northeastern Pennsylvania, your government should not be forcing you to do what elites in Washington want you to do.”

“You ought to chart your own course and your own career path and the Trump administration’s gonna fight for that,” the vice president continued. (RELATED: Mike Rowe Details Why Ben Z Ditching College For Big Money Blue-Collar Careers)

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Over two-fifths of Generation Z Americans are attending trade schools, including over a third who have already obtained college degrees, as debt has become burdensome and colleges have become overrun with left-wing politics, according to a survey from Resume Builder.

A survey of 1,000 U.S.-based 18- to 20-year-olds found that 74% perceive a stigma with choosing vocational school over attending a four-year college, according to McKinsey. Despite this, the number of students enrolled at vocational community colleges rose 16% in 2023 while the number of students training to become construction workers increased by 23%, The Wall Street Journal reported in April 2024.

In April, President Donald Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on foreign nations involved in trade with the U.S. with the intent of bringing back domestic manufacturing jobs and implementing fairer trade agreements. These tariffs have undergone several changes as Trump has engaged in trade agreements with several countries, including China.

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