AOC Faces Major Scandal After Doubling Down On Anti-Kirk Position

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing a growing scandal after she doubled down on her opposition to a House resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, who was tragically assassinated earlier this month. While the resolution drew broad bipartisan support, Ocasio-Cortez stood among just 58 Democrats who voted “no,” sparking backlash from colleagues, commentators, and Americans mourning Kirk’s death.

On Friday, Ocasio-Cortez delivered a speech explaining her opposition. “Charlie Kirk’s assassination was a horrific and vile attack, an incident of political violence. And condemning the depravity of Kirk’s brutal murder is a straightforward matter, one that is especially important to help stabilize an increasingly unsafe and volatile political environment where everyday people feel more at risk,” she said.

But her criticism didn’t stop there. “The majority proceeded with a resolution that brings great pain to the millions of Americans who endured segregation, Jim Crow, and the legacy of bigotry today,” she argued, suggesting that honoring Kirk as a unifying figure was historically inaccurate.

She went further, labeling Kirk’s “rhetoric and beliefs … ignorant, uneducated and [seeking] to disenfranchise millions of Americans, far from the ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ asserted by the majority in this resolution.” Despite her attacks, she closed by adding, “We continue to pray for Mr. Kirk’s family and loved ones in the wake of this terrible act. I am thinking, especially of his children and his wife, whose grief cannot be measured.”

The resolution denounced “in the strongest possible terms” the assassination of the Turning Point USA co-founder and praised law enforcement for swiftly arresting and charging Kirk’s suspected killer.

It also extended condolences to his wife, Erika Kirk, and their two young children, while honoring Charlie’s “steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth” that “inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty.” Finally, it urged Americans “to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”

Many Democrats voted for it, seeing no reason to oppose language that both mourned his killing and highlighted his national impact.

Ocasio-Cortez, however, framed it as partisan whitewashing, saying the resolution ignored Kirk’s controversial statements. She pointed to his criticisms of certain provisions of the Civil Rights Act, his commentary on Jewish influence in Hollywood and nonprofits, and his opposition to progressive policies.

Her remarks sparked outrage on social media, with many pointing out that Ocasio-Cortez has repeatedly demanded empathy in other contexts, yet now denies it to a slain political opponent. Even some moderate Democrats reportedly felt uneasy about her stance, fearing it handed Republicans fresh ammunition heading into an already contentious election season.

Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during a September 10 rally at Utah Valley University. Authorities charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, felony discharge of a firearm, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child. Prosecutors say Robinson confessed to the crime, which has been widely described as politically motivated.

In the wake of his death, Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded, announced plans to hold a national vigil. Utah Valley University is hosting a “Vigil for Unity” on Friday, September 19, where thousands are expected to gather to honor Kirk’s life and legacy.