In the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) held an Instagram live session to address her followers.
During the session, she urged her followers to reject divisive rhetoric and instead focus on unity and resilience.
Speaking candidly, Ocasio-Cortez shared concerns over the post-election finger-pointing, particularly from within the Democratic Party, where some have blamed support for marginalized groups as contributing factors in the loss.
She called on both liberals and conservatives to reject malicious discourse, which she views as counterproductive to the work ahead.
“There’s a certain cache and reward to being an a–hole,” Ocasio-Cortez stated, underscoring the pervasive vitriol she sees across political lines.
The congresswoman stated that people too often use “righteous or popular causes” to mask harmful behavior, adding:
“We need to be paying more attention to how a person is, because a lot of people use popular causes to let out their worst impulses.”
Ocasio-Cortez also cautioned followers about what the next four years could mean, specifically addressing immigrant communities.
“One in every 15 people in this country lives in a mixed-status family. I don’t think we’re ready for mass deportations and what that means,” she said, voicing fears about the potential impact on families and the economy under Trump’s administration.
When asked how people could prepare, she shared plans to enhance direct communication with her base, moving away from social media to email updates, which she feels can bypass misinformation.
She encouraged followers to build real-life community connections—be it through faith groups, activist organizations, or neighborhood groups—to foster resilience.
In a message of hope, Ocasio-Cortez stressed that finding joy amid uncertainty is an “act of radical defiance.” She encouraged people to embrace intentional joy, saying:
“We are actually going to need that now more than ever … cultivating it is a tool of our survival.”
