AOC brushes off GOP's communism fears

Speaking to reporters, the New York lawmaker highlighted the inability of the legislature to pass simple legislation in contending that radical change was extremely unlikely.

By Ben Whedon

Published: July 23, 2026 3:56pm

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Thursday brushed off warnings from her Republican critics that the Democratic Party was descending into communism and poised to take over the country.

Speaking to reporters, the New York lawmaker highlighted the inability of the legislature to pass simple legislation in contending that radical change was extremely unlikely.

"Just think about how impossible it has been to raise the minimum wage in America in 10, 15, 20 years. We can’t even raise the minimum wage. Do Republicans really think that this stuff is going to happen? No, they don’t," she said.

Republicans have, in recent weeks, embraced language warning of a communist resurgence from within the Democratic Party, pointing to primary wins from self-described democratic socialist candidates against incumbent lawmakers.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.