Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez humorously dismissed President Donald Trump's warnings about a supposed communist threat in the United States, labeling the claim as "ridiculous" during a press briefing outside the Capitol on Wednesday.
The controversy arose from a speech Trump gave at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he claimed, "Communism is the greatest threat to our country in its history, surpassing even World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, and 9/11."
When asked by a journalist if she was concerned about "the slippery slope towards socialism inevitably leading to full communism," the New York congresswoman chuckled before responding.
"No, I'm not worried that America will turn into a communist country in a year. I think that's absolutely ridiculous," she stated.
Questioning the Notion of a Communist Threat
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, who has represented New York's 14th congressional district since 2018, identifies as a democratic socialist and is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). However, none of the progressive politicians that Trump typically targets identify as communists.
To underscore what she deems an unfounded alarm, Ocasio-Cortez pointed to a concrete fact: the federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 per hour since 2009, a rate still applicable in 20 states and two territories.
"We can't even raise the minimum wage. Do Republicans really think this is going to happen? No, they don’t. They're trying to scare people because they don’t want us discussing the fact that everyone deserves healthcare in this country," she argued.
Political Rhetoric and Election Strategies
Ocasio-Cortez went further, accusing Republicans of using the "communist" label as an electoral smokescreen: "They want to call anything they dislike communist because if people wake up to the fact their elected officials are betraying them, they'll realize they deserve better."
The congresswoman also highlighted that countries like Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada ensure universal healthcare, while the United States "spends the most money to receive the worst care in the developed world."
Ocasio-Cortez's response comes amid a systematic anti-communist campaign by Trump, which has ramped up since June with the November midterm elections approaching.
A Reuters analysis noted that Trump's team mentioned communism 81 times in just two weeks of July, testing the message in focus groups ahead of the elections.
On Wednesday, Trump also accused "communists" of wanting to blow up Mount Rushmore, and the official White House account released a clip of the president stating, "With communism, everything goes to hell."
International and Domestic Political Context
The political backdrop also includes a State Department report presented by Secretary Marco Rubio on July 20, titled "Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism," which accuses the Cuban regime of sponsoring radical leftism in the United States for over six decades, linking internal anti-communist rhetoric with the administration's foreign policy.
Ocasio-Cortez is seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028, although she has not made any formal statements regarding such ambitions.
Understanding the Political Debate on Communism
What did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez say about Trump's communism warning?
Ocasio-Cortez dismissed Trump's warning about a communist threat as "ridiculous," arguing that it's a tactic to distract from issues like healthcare.
Why does Ocasio-Cortez believe the communist threat is unfounded?
She points out that the federal minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009 and argues that Republicans use the communist label to fear-monger.
How does Ocasio-Cortez compare the U.S. healthcare system to other countries?
She criticizes the U.S. for spending the most money while receiving the worst healthcare among developed countries, unlike nations with universal healthcare.