Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance was met with both applause and boos during his speech at the International Association of Firefighters conference in Boston. Vance, who touted himself and former President Donald Trump as the most "pro-workers Republican ticket in history," faced a divided crowd as he discussed his party's stance on unions.

As the Ohio senator approached the podium, a blend of applause and boos could be heard under the song "America First" by Merle Haggard. Unfazed, Vance smiled and acknowledged the mixed reaction, stating, "Sounds like we've got some fans and some haters. That's okay. Listen to what I have to say here, and I'll make my pitch."

Traditionally, the Republican party has been opposed to pro-union legislation, with a February Pew Research report showing that only 35% of Republicans view unions positively, while 61% have a negative perception of them. However, Vance insisted that he and Trump are the most pro-worker ticket ever nominated by the GOP.

"I want to talk about why we're fighting for working people, why we're going to fight for unions and non-unions alike," Vance emphasized, pointing towards the crowd, despite some boos in response. He spoke for over 20 minutes, addressing various issues concerning workers' rights and highlighting the importance of supporting both union and non-union workers.

As Vance concluded his speech and exited the stage, he received a mixed reaction once again, with cheers and boos echoing throughout the venue. His appearance at the firefighter union's conference comes just a few days before Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and Kamala Harris plan to showcase their support from labor groups in Rust Belt states over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

It's worth noting that former President Donald Trump has had conflicting relationships with labor union leaders. While he maintains an adversarial stance towards United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, he has a cordial relationship with International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, who spoke at the Republican National Convention.

The dynamic reception Vance received at the firefighters' conference reflects the division within the Republican party when it comes to the support and perception of unions. As the 2024 elections loom closer, the debate over workers' rights and the role of unions is likely to remain a prominent issue in the political landscape.

Rachel Barber, a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focuses on politics and education, illustrating the ongoing importance of these topics in shaping the national discourse.