Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) found herself in hot water after making a misleading claim about a large gathering in Puerto Rico. On Sunday, AOC took to social media to declare that over 50,000 people had rallied in support of the “anti-Trump, anti-corruption Alianza movement” and a local politician. She even claimed it was the second-largest political rally of the entire election cycle, second only to Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech at the Ellipse. However, the event she was referring to was not a political rally at all. It was the “Festival de la Esperanza,” a celebration hosted by two anti-colonial parties – Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana (MVC) and Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) – in the lead-up to upcoming elections.
Social media users quickly pointed out the error, with many accusing AOC of outright lying and using the festival for her own political gain. A community note on the post clarified the event’s true nature, stating it had “nothing to do with any of the US’s main parties.”
AOC attempted to clarify her remarks in a follow-up post, stating that she didn’t mention Kamala Harris and that her original post was about the “anti-corruption Alianza.” She went on to criticize a political opponent, claiming their campaign tactics were based on fear-mongering and that they were responsible for cuts to social security programs. Despite her attempt to clarify, many users continued to criticize her original post, which amassed over 5.7 million views.
The incident also drew the attention of billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), who simply wrote “lol” in response to AOC’s post. AOC and Musk have a history of feuding, dating back to at least 2023, when Musk called her “not that smart.” This incident adds another layer to their ongoing online rivalry.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate information in the age of social media. AOC’s misleading post highlights the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly, especially from prominent figures. It also raises questions about the responsibility of public officials to ensure their statements are truthful and accurate, especially when using platforms that reach a large audience.
