Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) thinks she’s ready for a promotion. Whether it’s a potential primary challenge against Chuck Schumer or her long-rumored presidential ambitions, the socialist former bartender who pretends to be from the Bronx seems to believe higher office is her destiny.
But after her cringe-inducing appearance at the Munich Security Conference, it’s clear she still hasn’t graduated from the “Instagram political influencer” phase of her career.
It’s no secret that politicians often use international trips as audition tapes for higher office. California’s Gavin Newsom, for example, is doing his world-tour routine to set up his inevitable 2028 presidential run. AOC apparently saw the same playbook and decided to crash the club in Germany, rubbing elbows with global elites while showcasing, well, not much else.
The problem? When she tried to sound like a serious international stateswoman, it fell apart spectacularly.
AOC took the stage at the 62nd Munich Security Conference alongside Newsom and other Democrats, who — as usual — decided to trash the United States and President Trump on foreign soil.
When asked whether the U.S. should commit troops to defend Taiwan if China invades, she froze. What followed was the kind of painfully incoherent word salad that would make Kamala Harris sound modestly coherent.
ICYMI: Trump Makes A HUGE Promise About Voter ID
“Um… You know, I think that, uh…This is such a, uh, you know, I think that this is a, um... “ she began. You could tell she was blindsided by the question, which exposed her complete lack of knowledge of foreign affairs. “This is, of course, a very long-standing policy of the United States, and I think what we are hoping for is that we want to make sure that we never get to that point, and we want to make sure that we are moving in all of our economic research and our global positions to avoid any such confrontation. And for that question to even arise.”
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Rep. AOC just SELF-DESTRUCTED while trying to represent America in Germany
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 13, 2026
"Should the US commit troops to defend Taiwan?"
AOC: "Um, you know, I think that, uhh, eh, this is such a, uh, you know, I th-I think that this is a, umm, this is of course a, uh, a very… pic.twitter.com/VfT98vKhZY
It was rough to watch. Her response wasn’t just some vague non-answer — it was an accidental admission that she had no clue what she was talking about and was trying to come up with some way to answer on the fly. In one of the world’s most high-profile security forums, surrounded by foreign leaders, she managed to project the exact opposite of competence.
American voters expect their politicians to at least sound as if they understand the basics of foreign policy. AOC couldn’t even fake it. She looked completely out of her depth. It was like watching a TikTok influencer trying to bluff her way through an advanced policy exam.
If she’s serious about running for Senate, let alone the presidency, this was a disaster for her. Foreign policy isn’t something you can cram for overnight.
If she wants to even bother pretending she’s worthy of a promotion, she can’t fake it. Kamala Harris tried this in 2024, and it didn’t exactly work out for her.
Want to support fearless journalism that exposes the left and tells the stories the media won’t? PJ Media delivers the truth and holds the powerful accountable. Become a VIP member today—your support fuels our mission and unlocks exclusive content, podcasts, an ad-free experience, and more.
Use code FIGHT for 60% off. It's a great time to join our movement. Join now and stand for America-first journalism!
Join the conversation as a VIP Member