President Donald Trump delivered praise to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., during a recent television appearance, calling the New York Democrat someone who has “a little spunk” — but made sure to point out that her far-left politics were “bad for the country.”
“Her philosophy’s so bad; she’s got a little spunk. She’s got a little something that’s good,” Trump said when asked by Fox News to say something positive about the socialist.
“She’s got a little something, but her philosophy is bad for the country.”
Trump’s comments come as Ocasio-Cortez is openly exploring a 2028 campaign for either the presidency or U.S. Senate. The fourth-term congresswoman has hired former advisers to socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and is spending millions of dollars to strengthen her online presence.
This isn’t the first time Trump has offered begrudging praise of Ocasio-Cortez. During a 2024 interview, Trump said the congresswoman has “got a spark that’s pretty amazing actually” and compared her to Eva Peron, the former first lady of Argentina.
Still, Trump said Ocasio-Cortez’s national prospects were dim in the 2028 election. “I don’t think her philosophy can come close to winning,” he said.
The relationship between Trump and Ocasio-Cortez has been marked by nasty exchanges over the years. After Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, coming within a quarter-inch of death, Ocasio-Cortez called him a fascist. She has also accused him of racism and xenophobia, and in July called him a rapist.
Trump has responded in kind, calling Ocasio-Cortez “one of the ‘dumbest’ people in Congress” and said she was simply “stupid.”
The congresswoman’s potential 2028 Senate run could create a civil war within the Democratic Party. If she chooses that route, she would face off against Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is up for reelection in 2028 — a fight that would pit the establishment of the Democratic Party directly against the socialist wing.
Some establishment Democrats have recently rallied to Ocasio-Cortez. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, in her memoir “107 Days,” praised Ocasio-Cortez for having a “joyful-warrior vibe” and claimed she connects with working-class voters.
A source familiar with Ocasio-Cortez’ 2028 planning told The Hill, “Why wouldn’t she be considering this? She’s one of the biggest voices in the Democratic Party, she fundraises like no one else, and she’s authentic and true to herself. Can’t say that about a lot of other people in the party.”