Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., faced criticism after falsely claiming that 50,000 attendees at a colonial elections festival in Puerto Rico were rallying for the “anti-Trump, anti-corruption Alianza movement.” The festival, called Festival de la Esperanza, was actually a gathering hosted by anti-colonial parties ahead of the next colonial elections, Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana and Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño. AOC’s post did not tell the entire story, leading critics to accuse her of lying and misleading people. Some accused her of using Puerto Rico for her own political goals.
AOC later attempted to clarify her remarks in a follow-up post on X, stating that she did not mention Kamala Harris and that the rally was about the anti-corruption Alianza. She also mentioned concerns about PNP’s Jenniffer Gonzalez running Latinos for Trump campaigns and using scare tactics about Dalmau cutting Social Security. However, despite her clarification, users continued to criticize AOC on her post, which garnered over 5.7 million views. Billionaire Elon Musk, who owns X, also joined in the criticism by simply writing “lol” in response to AOC’s post.
AOC and Elon Musk have been feuding over various issues for at least the last two years. In a previous instance in September 2023, AOC had slammed Musk on social media after he said that she is “not that smart.” The feud stemmed from a comment AOC made about House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., using girl math to criticize him. Conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair then shared a clip of AOC making inaccurate comparisons about legal immigrants and undocumented migrants, leading Musk to comment that AOC is “just not that smart.” AOC responded by listing her accomplishments and pointing out that she was not born rich, becoming the youngest woman in American history to be elected to Congress.
AOC’s clash with Musk is just one example of the controversies she has been involved in. Her recent misrepresentation of the festival in Puerto Rico raised questions about her credibility and the importance of being accurate in political statements. Despite attempts to clarify her remarks, AOC continues to face criticism and backlash from the public. The ongoing feud with Musk demonstrates the polarizing nature of her political career and the challenges she faces in maintaining her reputation in an increasingly divisive political climate.
Overall, AOC’s social media posts about the festival in Puerto Rico and the subsequent backlash highlight the complexities of political communication in the digital age. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and accuracy in public statements, especially for public figures like AOC. The ongoing feud with Elon Musk underscores the challenges of navigating political discourse and personal attacks in an increasingly contentious online environment. As one of the most prominent progressive voices in Congress, AOC’s actions and statements continue to generate strong reactions and debate across social media platforms.
