Who expected this?
On Monday, former President Donald Trump gave unexpected praise to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), describing her as having a “good spark” during an interview with internet personality Adin Ross on the platform Kick. Ross presented Trump with photos of various public figures, prompting his reaction to each. When Ocasio-Cortez’s photo appeared, Trump initially dismissed her with the term “fake.” However, he quickly revised his assessment, noting that despite his reservations, she has “a spark that’s pretty amazing.”
Trump reflected on his early impressions of Ocasio-Cortez when she first entered politics, likening her to Eva Perón, the former First Lady of Argentina. He revealed that he had warned aides to former Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) about the potential threat she posed during Crowley’s 2018 primary race, which Ocasio-Cortez ultimately won.
“She’s got a lot of sizzle,” Trump remarked, acknowledging her impactful presence and charisma.
In past statements, Trump has been a vocal critic of Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the Squad, often clashing with their progressive policies. For instance, in 2019, Trump infamously told several Democratic lawmakers to “go back” to the countries they came from, a comment widely criticized as racially insensitive.
Ocasio-Cortez has consistently been a staunch critic of Trump since her election to Congress in 2018. Recently, she expressed her strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race. On the social media platform X, Ocasio-Cortez urged for unity to counter Trump’s influence, stating, “Now more than ever before, it is paramount that our party and country quickly unite to beat Donald Trump and the threat to U.S. democracy. Let’s get to work.”
This surprising acknowledgment from Trump highlights the complex and often contentious nature of American political discourse, demonstrating that even opponents can recognize and respect each other’s influence and presence.
