Eleven-year-old Frank Giaccio received widespread praise after cutting the White House lawn at President Trump’s invitation. The internet fell in love with the entrepreneurial boy willing to get his hands dirty, and the story went viral on social media.
#ICYMI: Frank stopped by the White House on Friday! pic.twitter.com/1WrMaws0wZ
— The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) September 17, 2017
However, Trump supporters immediately braced themselves for inevitable criticism from people who fanatically search for any excuse to censure the President–even over the most seemingly innocent things.
The criticism came, in the form of “child labor” concerns from former New York Times labor reporter Steven Greenhouse.
Not sending a great signal on child labor, minimum wage & occupational safety >> Trump White House lets a 10-year-old volunteer mow its lawn https://t.co/uj7N9Mr8Yi
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) September 15, 2017
Greenhouse (who mistakenly says Frank Giaccio is ten-years-old), took issue with having a young boy operate a lawn mower. Apparently, his parents never had him mow the lawn as a kid.
And the former reporter’s mention of “minimum wage” seems to allude to the fact that Giaccio offered to mow the lawn free of charge, a service for which he normally charges $8.
The reaction to Greenhouse’s strange tweet was swift and severe, with a surprising consensus opinion among the social media users–who were outraged at the journalist’s critique of the boy’s work ethic.
Seriously? He let's a kid mow the White House lawn -something kid will never forget and you blast him about child labor laws?
— Jeff Crank (@jeffcrank) September 15, 2017
Good Lord fellow where I grew up 12 year olds were driving combines and driving grain Trucks….I mowed lawns at his age all the time….
— Mooster (@Mooster22) September 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/maxmom427/status/909162506324758529
https://twitter.com/DaisyBeach23/status/909239948301209600
Greenhouse quickly tried to save face. He claimed he wasn’t trying to criticize Trump or Giaccio, but simply wanted to bring attention to child safety. Greenhouse went on a multi-tweet rant about the dangers of letting young kids mow the law. He also engaged in heated argument with other Twitter users.
What this kid wants to do is noble, but sorry, I'm mindful of problems–I've written lots about child labor & kids being hurt by machinery
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) September 15, 2017
Noble that Frank wants to help, but American Academy of Pediatrics says no one under 12 should operate a push mower. https://t.co/34IcwUMhWj https://t.co/uj7N9Mr8Yi
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) September 15, 2017
. Yeah nice try….the only snowflake is someone who thinks an 11 yr old cant/shouldn't mow a lawn–This is why America HATES "journalists"
— Flavius Aetius (@StupidBoomers) September 17, 2017
My parents bought me a lawnmower, a weedwacker, and pruning shears when I started a lawn care business at age 9.
— Deplorable in Vegas (@VegasDeplorable) September 17, 2017
Dear fledgling writer. Didn't you read the links I tweeted. It's great to teach kids to be self-sufficient. It's important that they be safe
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) September 16, 2017
You really need to spend some time in non-coastal America, perhaps on a family farm or ranch, or even where normal people have yards.
— Candice (@Candice_AZ) September 17, 2017
Calls others snowflakes and accuses them of having a meltdown as he frantically Googles a bunch of studies to back his nittery.
— gunslikewhoa (@gunslikewhoa) September 17, 2017
Steven Greenhouse spent 31 years as a reporter for the New York Times and still contributes on occasion. Much of his work has been devoted to defending unions and organized labor.
Frank Giaccio runs his own business mowing neighbors’ lawns and performing weed whacking. He did the White House gig for free at the suggestion of his father. White House staff provided Giaccio with equipment and he was under close supervision while he worked.
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