Virginia Foxx

In May 2026, users on social media platforms including Reddit (archived) shared purported screenshots of a scathing message they said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., wrote to a 10-year-old fourth grader who, as part of a class assignment, had sent her an essay proposing a tax incentive for buying an electric vehicle.

One person who shared the claim in an X post that included a video of a news report featuring a screenshot of the message wrote, "He chose to write about an electric vehicle tax credit. Something he thought was good for the environment. Virginia responded by attacking him and his teacher for being propagandized."

There was no indication the message, which appeared to have been sent over email because it included hyperlinks, was inauthentic.

However, Snopes bases its ratings on primary evidence, and Foxx has not publicly confirmed she was the message's author, as of this writing. We have contacted Foxx's office, the mother of the student and the student's school for confirmation or a copy of the message.

Until we receive a response confirming the message's authenticity, this claim will remain unrated.

Emily Mango, the boy's mother, described the situation in an Instagram post (archived) that included a screenshot of what she said was Foxx's response to her son on May 9, 2026:

10 year old had a school assignment to write a persuasive essay about a topic of his choice. He wrote about the benefits of electric cars and suggested the govt consider a tax rebate for electric cars. He mailed it to NC Representative Foxx, in a school envelope, with 4th Grade on the return address... clearly it was written by a 10 year old. The response back was so NOT OK.

Mango's screenshot appeared to be a cropped version of the full document and had certain parts highlighted. A larger image that appeared to include Foxx's letterhead and no highlighting also circulated online. It appeared to have first shown up online as part of a May 11 report from a local Fox affiliate. The text in both versions was identical. We've reached out to the news outlet that published the larger image to ask where they sourced it from, and will update this story if we hear more.

In her Instagram post, Mango described how her son was proud of his work, which she said had "nothing to do with politics" and that he "researched, cited facts, and made good arguments."

According to Mango's screenshot of the message, dated May 1, 2026, the congresswoman offered a response thanking the child for writing and then included links to "six articles about the disastrous record of policies enacted to address 'climate change.'"

The primary quote that circulated on social media came toward the end of the message — highlighted in Mango's screenshot — in which Foxx allegedly wrote, "2038 is only 12 years away and YOU and your classmates will be responsible for that debt," referring to the national debt.

She continued:

Incidentally, please ask your teacher to explain propaganda to you. While I will never be able to know, 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.

In her post, Mango said Foxx was out of touch and the response "disrespectful, hostile, and unkind." She wrote, "I wish we had a representative who demonstrates respectful leadership and encourages children to engage in civil discourse rather than attacking children who write them letters."

Foxx has not commented on the claim as of this writing, but the story has been picked up by local North Carolina media outlets as well as larger outlets such as HuffPost, People magazine, The Independent, The Daily Beast and The New York Post.