Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had the perfect response after one of President Donald Trump's supporters flew a banner reading "Folsom Is Trump Country" over a Northern California rally she held with her colleague, Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders.
She brushed off a warning that they were entering “Trump country” as the crowd swelled in deep-red Folsom, a Republican stronghold nestled in Representative Kevin Kiley’s district. Just to drive the point home, a small plane buzzed above the rally, trailing a banner in bold red letters: “Folsom Is Trump Country.”
Ocasio-Cortez was undeterred, making a powerful statement:
“I heard that someone started flying a plane with a banner that said, ‘This is Trump country.' It sure don’t look like it today. I don’t think this is Trump country. I think this is our country."
The crowd roared.
You can hear what she said in the video below.
AOC: I heard that someone was flying a plane with a banner that said this is Trump country… It sure don’t look like it today. I don’t think this is Trump country. This is our country.
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— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) April 15, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Many applauded her remarks.
Dayum--she is good at this! Keep her and Bernie speaking around the country.
— char0853.bsky.social (@char0853.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 2:51 AM
She has a heart & a soul! That’s what we need more of. Lots more. ❤️
— summertimedesigns.bsky.social (@summertimedesigns.bsky.social) April 15, 2025 at 10:09 PM
I was at that event and stood in a 2km long line to hear AOC and Sanders talk. I also saw that plane and a few very loud MAGA trucks, but mostly I saw enormous crowds of very peaceful but angry Americans who are ready to fight for a decent nation.
— Greg Spooner (@spoonsky.bsky.social) April 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM
God bless AOC and Bernie Sanders for their courage and dedication to American democracy
— Kim Gard 🦋 (@kimgard728.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 4:47 AM
They are outmatched by this woman.
— Candy (@candiva.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM
That was great when she said that. This is defiantly not tRump country, it’s the people’s country.
— lovesdogs.bsky.social (@lovesdogs.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Keep up the good work!!!! You and Bernie Sanders are the only dems I see even trying here! It is VERY good to see/hear you and VERY disheartening to not see the others we entrusted with our concerns!
— Donna Denver-Vitello (@donnamariev.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Was so excited they came to Folsom! AOC and Bernie were inspiring and so were the thousands of people from our area (of all ages!) who came. The crowd and mile and a half long line was impressive! Let’s hope it made an impact on our representatives…we are NOT fringe Left extremists.
— heyheystruggles.bsky.social (@heyheystruggles.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Democrats have found it challenging to effectively respond to Trump, his billionaire ally Elon Musk, and congressional Republicans following their defeat in last year’s election.
Polling indicates that approval of the party and its congressional representatives is at record lows. However, Sanders' and Ocasio-Cortez's efforts seem to be gaining traction with many across the country. Tens of thousands of people have turned out at their rallies, which are part of the "Fight the Oligarchy" tour, across multiple states.
Last month, Ocasio-Cortez criticized Musk for questioning the legitimacy of the crowd at one of her rallies, advising he find a more "interesting conspiracy theory to peddle."
Earlier this week, she called Trump a “criminal,” a liar, and a “rapist,” and reiterated her earlier statements that some members of Congress might have participated in insider trading after it was revealed that NASDAQ call volume spiked just minutes before Trump's tariffs pause announcement.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images