Since the shocking primary victory that would catapult her to Congress in 2018, Republicans have long disparaged the intelligence of progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Ocasio-Cortez—colloquially known as AOC—graduated cum laude from Boston University with degrees in economics and international relations. She also earned an international award for science in high school.
Nevertheless, President Donald Trump and his allies mock the Congresswoman for working as a bartender before her election to Congress.
At a recent rally, President Donald Trump suggested he was skeptical that she'd gone to college.
Watch below.
Watch Trump taunt Rep. Ocasio-Cortez: pic.twitter.com/DW6Rfxxf0P
— The Recount (@therecount) October 26, 2020
Trump said:
"I don't think she ever took an environmental course in college. She did go to college right?"
Ocasio-Cortez, known for her ability to clap back on social media, didn't hesitate to respond—and it wasn't to defend her education.
I could say yes, but who cares? Plenty of people without college degrees could run this country better than Trump ever has.
As much as GOP cry about “elites," they're the ones who constantly mock food service workers, people w/o degrees, etc as dumb. It's classist & disgusting. https://t.co/t4FepwyeGl
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 26, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez replied that "plenty of people" without a college education could perform Trump's duties better than he has.
She then highlighted the GOP's hypocrisy when it comes to the working class:
"As much as GOP cry about 'elites,' they're the ones who constantly mock food service workers, people w/o degrees, etc as dumb. It's classist & disgusting."
Twitter users everywhere agreed with the assessment.
I've worked in the hospitality and service industries my entire career, and can confidently say this a stone-cold fact. https://t.co/QS62t8WuLU
— Shawna Morlock (@shawna_morlock) October 26, 2020
This is the correct answer, but that doesn't stop ME from reminding everyone that in addition to her dual degrees from Boston University, in high school, @aoc won second place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in microbiology. https://t.co/uJvSL6iW4u https://t.co/dy9owMRszA
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) October 26, 2020
AOC 100% on point here.
Republicans say the DNC is the party of university snobs, and will mock people who work as bartenders. https://t.co/ylGjbJNXvk
— Christo Aivalis 🌹🍊 (@christoaivalis) October 26, 2020
“Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps is the American way!"
...unless you're a bartender who becomes a congresswoman. https://t.co/RngYpinsxb
— AC Skytweeter (@AshwinC) October 26, 2020
The GOP treats working people terribly and then tries to win them over with divisive cultural issues.
Incompetent, yes. But also divisive, cruel, and vicious to working families. That's today's GOP https://t.co/QHZJwGwK5J
— Carter Bundy (@carterbundy) October 26, 2020
Every time Trump questions @AOC's college education, or when folks like @IngrahamAngle mock her for having been a bartender, their base of actual non-college educated yts who feel disenfranchised by Wharton School graduates like Trump is dunked on. Ironic but they'll never know.. https://t.co/NGl0oB5FWK
— Aminder S. (@AminderSBains) October 26, 2020
They praised her clapback as well.
AOC is a better leader than Trump could ever hope to be. https://t.co/vvIyPYYUdL
— Donna Howard (@Donnachka206) October 26, 2020
The fact that people eat up the conflicting messages is honesty baffling. Trump made multiple comments at the debate about Biden being rich as if he himself isn't the pinnacle of "coastal elites". He would scoff at most of his supporters if he met them in any other context. https://t.co/XQ0FJ1PN7E
— Anthony (@s404064) October 26, 2020
Lol, no one does it better. Also has a first term congresswoman ever been this popular with the other party?? https://t.co/nLZfIRQJmz
— T.Fraser (@MindStimulating) October 26, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez will almost certainly win reelection for a second term in Congress. She won her primary with over 70 percent of the vote in the solid blue 14th Congressional District of New York. Despite the near-inevitability of her win, her GOP challenger has raked in millions of dollars, fueled by the party's portrayal of AOC as a poster child for socialism.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images