Share

AOC Compares Trump Win To “Facism” As Biden Appeals For Calm


New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunday evening calling Democrats, who are already conceding to a second Donald Trump presidential term, fascists.

The outspoken Democratic representative shared an article from Axios that notes a senior House Democrat said, “we’ve all resigned ourselves to a second Trump presidency.” Ocasio-Cortez called for anyone who “feels this way” to retire to make room for those who will fight for the election.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a 2020 rally. AOC attended a rally for Reps. Jamaal Bowman on Saturday.

AP

“If you’re a ‘senior Democrat’ that feels this way, you should absolutely retire and make space for true leadership that refuses to resign themselves to fascism,” Ocasio-Cortez posted to X. “This kind of leadership is functionally useless to the American people. Retire.”

The Axios article Ocasio-Cortez referred to shared that a senior House Democrat called the “post-shooting atmosphere…too ‘chaotic’ for internal battles over leadership.”

Many have called for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. At least 20 sitting Democrats have called for the president to step down as the party’s presidential nominee after his performance at the first presidential debate last month. Celebrities like George Clooney and Stephen King as well as politicians like Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona and Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado have joined the growing list of people concerned with Biden’s abilities to hold office.

“Joe Biden saved our country once, and I’m joining the growing number of people in my district and across the country to ask him to do it again. Please pass the torch to one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump, who is the greatest threat to the foundation of this country that we have ever faced,” Rep. Pettersen wrote.

Ocasio-Cortez’s comments follow leading political scientist Mark Shanahan telling Newsweek that Saturday’s shooting at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania “has the power to swing the 2024 presidential] election firmly to the Republicans.”

Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Minutes into Trump’s speech at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, loud popping noises were heard as people huddled for safety. Trump appeared to clutch his ear and fell to the ground. When he stood back up, surrounded by Secret Service agents, as blood was seen running down his face.

The gunman has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

Crooks allegedly killed Corey Comperatore of Sarver, Pennsylvania, a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter. The two surviving victims — 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania have been upgraded to stable condition according to authorities.

Broadcast footage captured the moment Trump grabbed his right ear, before ducking down, as shots were heard. As he was led away from the stage by Secret Service agents Trump defiantly raised his clenched fist, sparking cheering from supporters.

Shanahan argued Republicans will contrast Trump’s fist raising defiance with ongoing concerns over the fitness of 81-year-old President Joe Biden.

Just moments after Ocasio-Cortez’s post, President Joe Biden took the stage at the Oval Office to address the assassination attempt on Trump.

Biden took an opposing tone from Ocasio-Cortez, calling for unity throughout the nation.

“Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy,” Biden said. “While we may disagree, we are not enemies.”

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com