Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., responded to President Donald Trump’s recent speech to Congress by spreading a Medicaid conspiracy theory to supporters.
Ocasio-Cortez urged Democratic supporters to mobilize in Republican districts to warn others that Trump has secret, unspoken plans to cut Medicaid, despite his public promises to protect the program.
In a 54-minute Instagram Live session Tuesday night following Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, the New York Democrat told her 8.7 million followers that Trump deliberately avoided mentioning Medicaid cuts because “he knows it’s dynamite.”
“These Republicans, I’m telling you all, they are getting scared,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “Trump not mentioning Medicaid at the State of the Union is the game. He doesn’t talk about it. [It’s] what he fears and he knows it’s dynamite. The House Republicans know that it’s dynamite for them and that’s why they’re talking about not hosting town halls.”
Trump’s 80-minute address focused heavily on economic policy, border security, and foreign affairs. During the speech, Trump highlighted his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, whom he praised for identifying government waste.
Ocasio-Cortez specifically targeted Musk in her rant, referring to the billionaire as an “a–hole” and accusing him of benefiting from government contracts while supporting cuts. She claimed Musk was going to cut social security and Medicaid, which the Trump administration has repeatedly denied.
“We let a–holes like Elon Musk cut Medicaid and cut social security in order for him to pay for his own tax cuts and his own billion dollars in private federal contracts,” she said. “This guy takes billions and billions of your tax dollars, of your public funds. And it’s not just Elon. All these guys, a lot of a lot of these tech guys that were standing behind Trump at the inauguration.”
“If you’re near a Republican, if you are in a Republican district and your Republican is not hosting a town hall, it’s time to do community town halls,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s time to do community teachings. It’s time to do community town halls. It is time to start advertising their absence.”
While some House Republicans have expressed concern about potential spending cuts to offset the cost of Trump’s policy agenda, the president has repeatedly stated he will not cut Medicare or Medicaid benefits. The White House has emphasized its focus is on reducing waste within these programs rather than reducing benefits.
Ocasio-Cortez insisted that Democrats should capitalize on her conspiracy theory to undermine Republicans and win support.
“If Democrats can step on a rake, Republicans can step on a rake. And I am telling you, they are stepping on one of the biggest rakes in modern American history,” she said. “They are messing with social security y’all. I need you to understand how much of a political no-go that has been for both parties for a very long time, for a reason. Because your stuff will collapse.”
Trump’s congressional address featured several viral moments, including when he referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas” during remarks about Ukraine funding.
The speech also highlighted his administration’s focus on tariffs, immigration enforcement, and government efficiency initiatives.
AOC: "Mark my words They are coming after it (Medicaid).
All that rattling off social security and trying to frame social security as largely wasteful.
They are setting all of this up, they are trying to trick you." pic.twitter.com/Sryo3pV9yg
— Winter’s Politics 🖤 (@WintersPolitics) March 5, 2025