Boy, 10, sent persuasive essay to his Republican congresswoman — who accused his teacher of ‘indoctrinating’ in scathing response

May 12, 2026

A North Carolina fourth-grader submitted a carefully crafted persuasive essay in favor of electric vehicles to his congresswoman as part of a school assignment — and received a scathing response where his work was degraded to “propaganda.”

Christian Mango, 10, penned the letter to Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) on the benefits of e-vehicles, and suggested doling out a $5,000 tax rebate to electric vehicle owners.

Rep. Virginia Foxx claimed a fourth-grader’s teachers were “indoctrinating” him in a response to his school assignment. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Christian Mango, 10, submitted a persuasive essay on electric vehicles to Foxx’s office. FOX8 WGHP

“Christian and his class, they wrote a persuasive essay of their choosing. They mailed it off to a representative, a CEO, whoever the decision maker was to be influential in their persuasive essay points,” his mom Emily Mango explained to Fox 8.

The well-meaning student selected Foxx, an 82-year-old Republican who previously chaired the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

“They’re better than normal cars. They’re better for the environment. They pay less. And there’s no gas,” Christian told the outlet.

He also urged the lawmaker to help fight climate change.

“Maybe there is still a chance for 6.5 million people to not die anymore and for the weather to get better just maybe glaciers stop melting,” the 10-year-old concluded in his essay.

To the student and his mom’s surprise, Foxx mailed a response on May 1.

In Foxx’s letter, she directed the young student to read six articles “about the disastrous record of policies enacted to address ‘climate change’.”

Two articles were published by the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board and a third was an opinion piece, according to Mango.

Then, the lawmaker warned that Christian and his classmates will be saddled with the national debt crisis by the time they reach their 20s, which had nothing to do with his essay, and accused his teacher of “indoctrinating” him.

In the letter, Foxx directed Christian to review six articles on “disastrous” climate change policies. Instagram / emily.mango1

“Incidentally, please ask your teacher to explain propaganda to you. While I will never be able to know you, my guess is that your teachers will not give you a good educational experience and help you learn to think as they are too interested in indoctrinating you. How sad,” Foxx wrote.

The tirade ended with an automated plug to subscribe to Foxx’s newsletter and follow her on social media.

Mango said she’s now “embarrassed” to call the 11-term congresswoman her representative.

Christian’s mother, Emily Mango, said that Foxx’s “inappropriate response” was “out of touch.” FOX8 WGHP

“She attacked his teachers, his school, his education, and referenced propaganda, indoctrination, and other concepts that a 10-year-old has not been exposed to. This is a totally inappropriate response to one of her youngest constituents,” the mom wrote on Instagram alongside a screenshot of Foxx’s letter.

Christian told the outlet he thought Foxx’s callout was “wrong” since his school “didn’t do anything” to influence his essay’s topic.

“We told our son that is not an okay response. Nobody should talk to a child like that and nobody should talk to a teacher like that. She crossed the line,” Mango added.

Foxx is currently seeking reelection for a whopping 12th term in Congress. She is endorsed by President Trump.

“A close read of the letter from Rep. Foxx, coupled with an understanding of Rep. Foxx’s record of holding educational systems to account, simply reveals a concern for indoctrination stemming from those responsible for educating students,” a spokesperson for her office said.

“The motives of the individual student who wrote the letter to Rep. Foxx were never being impugned – not in the slightest.”

Virginia Foxx speaking at a microphone.
Rep. Virginia Foxx claimed a fourth-grader’s teachers were “indoctrinating” him in a response to his school assignment. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Christian Mango, a 4th grader, speaking.
Christian Mango, 10, submitted a persuasive essay on electric vehicles to Foxx’s office. FOX8 WGHP
Letter from Congresswoman Virginia Foxx to a constituent regarding electric car tax rebates and climate change policy.
In the letter, Foxx directed Christian to review six articles on “disastrous” climate change policies. Instagram / emily.mango1
A woman with blonde hair and a white shirt looks concerned, with the text "HOW DO YOU EVEN EXPLAIN THAT TO A 10-YEAR-OLD?" at the bottom.
Christian’s mother, Emily Mango, said that Foxx’s “inappropriate response” was “out of touch.” FOX8 WGHP