New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made waves at the 2026 Munich Security Conference, delivering a progressive critique of U.S. foreign policy while taking aim at Secretary of State Marco Rubio and stumbling over basic geography facts.
During her debut at the prestigious international forum on February 13, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the need for Western democracies to prioritize working-class gains to counter rising authoritarianism. She accused the Trump administration of undermining global norms, likening President Trump’s approach to treating Latin America as his “personal sandbox.” In a panel discussion, she tied income inequality to the surge in far-right populism, urging leaders to focus on material benefits for everyday people rather than abstract ideals.
The following day, at a sidelines event hosted by Technical University of Berlin, AOC sharpened her rhetoric against Rubio’s earlier speech at the conference. Rubio had highlighted transatlantic partnerships and cultural ties, including a reference to American cowboy culture originating from Spanish traditions brought to the Americas. Ocasio-Cortez mocked this as “cultural nostalgia” and an appeal to “Western culture” with exaggerated air quotes, quipping that “the Mexicans and descendants of African enslaved peoples would like to have a word on that.” Her remarks drew laughter from the audience, positioning Rubio’s comments as out of touch with diverse historical influences on American identity.
However, Ocasio-Cortez’s performance hit a snag when she criticized the U.S. operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Acknowledging Maduro as “anti-democratic,” she argued against what she called a “kidnapping” and “act of war,” claiming it was unjustified “just because the nation is below the equator.” In fact, Venezuela lies entirely north of the Equator, a factual error that quickly drew online ridicule and highlighted a gap in her geopolitical commentary.
Amid speculation about her potential 2028 presidential run—which she didn’t rule out during the conference—AOC’s Munich outing showcased her fiery style but also underscored vulnerabilities in her international expertise. While her calls for economic justice resonated with some attendees, the Rubio jab and geography slip provided fodder for critics, illustrating the challenges of bridging domestic progressive activism with global diplomacy.
SOURCES:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to trans-Atlantic partnerships at Munich Security Conference | WVXU
Ocasio-Cortez Offers a Working-Class Vision in Munich, With Some Stumbles – The New York Times
AOC’s “Breakout” Performance in Berlin | National Review
HUH? AOC Gives Word Salad About Inequality, Suggests Marco Rubio is Racist for Saying Cowboys Came From Spain – “I Believe The Mexicans and Descendants of African slaves Would Like to Have a Word” (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit | by Jordan Conradson
AOC Fails Basic Geography Lesson | The Daily Caller
Ocasio-Cortez Falsely Claims Venezuela’s Location During Maduro Criticism
In Munich, AOC warns that democracies must deliver for the working class to stave off ‘authoritarianism’
