Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) didn’t hold back when responding to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s recent comment on social media, in which he suggested that she’s “not that smart.” This exchange occurred amid a social media debate sparked by AOC’s comparison of New York City’s current immigration situation to historical immigration patterns through Ellis Island.
AOC initially shared her perspective on Instagram, where she argued that the current number of immigrants entering New York City is significantly lower than the daily influx of immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954, totaling over 12 million people. Her intention was to contextualize the current immigration situation by drawing parallels to Ellis Island.
However, AOC’s attempt to draw historical connections generated criticism on social media, with some accusing her of equating legal immigration through Ellis Island with the current influx of undocumented migrants crossing the southern border. Conservative commentator Ashley St. Clair strongly disagreed with AOC’s comparison and voiced her concerns on social media, catching Elon Musk’s attention.
In response to Ashley St. Clair’s post, Elon Musk commented, “She’s just not that smart,” referring to AOC. This marked another addition to a series of social media exchanges between the two prominent figures.
Musk’s dismissive remark didn’t go unanswered by the congresswoman.
In a tweet, AOC fired back, “I wasn’t born rich and became the youngest woman in American history to be elected to Congress.” Her response was just the beginning as she proceeded to list her significant achievements in office. She highlighted her involvement in investigations, policy development, and job creation. AOC emphasized that she had conducted investigations related to Michael Cohen, authored what she described as “the largest FEMA funeral assistance program in history,” and played a pivotal role in launching the US Climate Corps, aimed at creating tens of thousands of new jobs.
The congresswoman wrapped up her response with a memorable closing statement: “Stay mad.”
Subsequently, Elon Musk retracted his comment and acknowledged AOC’s accomplishments.
AOC reiterated her unwavering commitment to addressing the critical issues facing the United States.
This isn’t the first time AOC and Musk have engaged in social media exchanges, and their online interactions have previously drawn significant attention.
