Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., snapped at a reporter Wednesday for asking if her rival, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is leading the Democratic Party’s strategy during the government shutdown.
The exchange came after Ocasio-Cortez demanded Republicans negotiate with her directly with her if they believe Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., shut down the government because he fears a primary challenge from the socialist left.
“Why are you saying such a ridiculous thing?” Pelosi barked at the reporter.
The reporter was referencing Ocasio-Cortez’s own comments from MSNBC Tuesday night, when she was asked if she would primary Schumer and whether the Senate Minority Leader shut down the government to appease the socialist branch of the Democratic Party.
“This is so not about me in this moment. This is about people being able to insure their children. And I will say, because I saw some senators speculating about this, and I saw some Republican members of Congress saying, ‘Oh, well, if we have this shutdown, it’s because of AOC,'” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“Well, if that’s the case, my office is open and you are free to walk in and negotiate with me directly, because what I’m not going to do is tolerate four million uninsured Americans because Donald Trump decided one day that he wants to just make sure that kids are dying because they don’t have access to insurance,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“That’s what’s not gonna happen. And so if those senators think that we’re having a shutdown because of me, they’re free to enter my office and negotiate, because what we’re not going to do is allow all of millions of people in this country to not be able to afford their insulin and their chemotherapy. So, come strike a deal with me, if that’s what you really think is going on.”
Republicans believe Ocasio-Cortez is directing the shutdown — and Pelosi scolded the reporter for asking her about it.
“She is not directing this. She’s wonderful, she’s a real team player, and the rest of that. You started by saying Republicans say that she’s directing this. She is not, Hakeem Jeffries is, and this takes a lot of experience, a lot of unity from the caucus in terms of the point of view, and that’s what this is,” Pelosi said. “She’s an articulate spokesperson for her point of view. Hakeem Jeffries.”
“I’m just quoting what AOC said. She said go to her office directly, do you think there’s any credibility to that?” the reporter asked.
Take a look —
Lol Nancy Pelosi gets pissed off when a reporter asks her if AOC pushing Democrats to their left flank is why they shut down the government. pic.twitter.com/Cpd2C04O23
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 1, 2025
The controversy comes after years of growing rivalry between Pelosi and establishment Democrats, and the rising Democratic Socialist wing of the party led by Ocasio-Cortez.
Last year, Pelosi worked to block Ocasio-Cortez’s bid to become the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.
Now, it seems she’s following Ocasio-Cortez’ lead.