Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) made controversial remarks on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, expressing doubt about the reading and writing abilities of inner-city teachers.

He criticized the public school system in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing a report that revealed 23 Baltimore schools with no students proficient in math but took it a step further and questioned the proficiency of the teachers themselves.

“I don’t know whether they can read and write. And they want a raise. They want less time to work, less time in school,” Tuberville said. “It’s just, we’ve ruined work ethic in this country. We don’t work at it anymore. We push an easy life.”

Tuberville rose to fame as a college football coach but since becoming a Senator has become a lightning rod for controversy due to his remarks.