On Tuesday, August 18, at the Democratic National Convention, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took the stage to nominate Bernie Sanders to become President of the United States.
Though Joe Biden had already informally clinched the nomination, Sanders secured many voting delegates before withdrawing from the race and so his nomination was a requirement at the convention.
As a close idealogical ally of Sanders, AOC was a natural choice to formalize Sanders' nomination.
She did so in a 60-second speech.
WATCH: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's full speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention youtu.be
Mainstream American media outlets like NBC were perfectly aware of AOC's role in the night's proceedings, which were not only planned by the DNC but also required by law.
Of course, that didn't stop NBC News from tweeting about AOC's speech as if she had hijacked the convention away from Joe Biden.
About three hours after posting the tweet, NBC removed it, but not before the damage had been done in the eyes of many online.
This is an incredibly misleading tweet. @AOC filled a role others have in the past to honor the second place winner… https://t.co/vKYYb9tnY8— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@Yashar Ali 🐘)1597803142.0
2. Finally...@NBCNews has deleted the misleading tweet about @AOC. Really bad stuff here and damaging. It’s absurd… https://t.co/uz3lKfazsA— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@Yashar Ali 🐘)1597816408.0
AOC, who can always be counted on to dish out the truth on Twitter, shamed NBC for their misrepresentation of the facts.
You waited several hours to correct your obvious and blatantly misleading tweet. It sparked an enormous amount of… https://t.co/RCPAjDavtw— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)1597815311.0
This is completely unacceptable, disappointing, and appalling. The DNC shared the procedural purpose of my remarks… https://t.co/RMEC9jFeDm— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)1597815980.0
NBC tweeted an "editor's note and clarification" to clear up any confusion...after one A.M. EST, after many of their readers had gone to bed.
Editor's note and clarification (1/2): This tweet should have included more detail on the nominating process. We… https://t.co/SsJEhUWYeE— NBC News (@NBC News)1597813984.0
Editor's note and clarification (2/2): Ocasio-Cortez was asked by the DNC to second Sanders' nomination. The nomi… https://t.co/h2862jE1Fw— NBC News (@NBC News)1597814120.0
AOC called NBC News out for their toothless apology.
So @NBCNews how are you going to fix the incredible amount of damage and misinformation that you are now responsibl… https://t.co/by1WxRcpom— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)1597816769.0
I should be used to it by now, but I still get earnestly perplexed every few weeks when AOC does something complete… https://t.co/8V1XhiZHuK— Wesley (@Wesley)1597846616.0
I’m glad AOC is calling out that NBC tweet for what it was. They directed hate and harassment towards her by purpos… https://t.co/bLcBiXGDvD— blackness everdeen 🐺 (@blackness everdeen 🐺)1597816495.0
On Twitter, most people felt that NBC's tweet was shamefully manipulative.
NBC really screwed this one up, and @AOC bore the brunt of the damage. Also errantly made Biden look jilted. https://t.co/GukiGSsBJx— Steven Mazie (@Steven Mazie)1597816497.0
@NBCNews You owe AOC and the public an apology. It wasn't negligence bc that would ascribe good faith to NBC. That… https://t.co/EQzUHwhM0Z— Nat Barber (@Nat Barber)1597838572.0
.@AOC's #DemConvention speech emphasized the need for systemic change: https://t.co/guiX9qsoEN— Vox (@Vox)1597847109.0
How are Americans supposed to be well-informed when it comes to politics when their media intentionally misrepresents facts to generate clicks?