Staff Reports
In a surprising turn of events, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez found herself in the midst of controversy when she attempted to explain her purchase of a Tesla, an incident that puzzled many. Back in 2021, Ocasio-Cortez faced scrutiny for acquiring a $35,000 Model 3 from Elon Musk's non-unionized company. Fast forward a year, and she expressed her desire to transition to an electric vehicle produced by a unionized workforce. However, when questioned about the delay in making this switch, her response left viewers scratching their heads.
When asked to clarify the reason for the delay, Ocasio-Cortez stumbled through an explanation that left social media users even more bewildered. She noted that she had bought her car during the pandemic when travel restrictions were in place and vaccines were not yet available. According to her, this made an electric vehicle the safest choice for commuting between New York and Washington, D.C. However, she did acknowledge the existence of newer models on the market with improved range and admitted to considering a trade-in.
AOC makes word salad for breakfast, claims she bought a Tesla because the jab was not available so it was safer that way. pic.twitter.com/NfeyIwz4PI
— Phenomenology (@BerryRazi) September 24, 2023
Critics on social media wasted no time in mocking Ocasio-Cortez's explanation. One user quipped, "If that explanation makes sense to you, it's time to put away the drinks and take a nap." Another sarcastically commented, "AOC serves up word salad for breakfast, claiming she purchased a Tesla because the vaccine wasn't available, so it was the safer option." The confusion surrounding Ocasio-Cortez's explanation only added to the criticism she faced for her Tesla purchase, particularly in light of her previous critiques of the company and its subsidies.
Ocasio-Cortez's acquisition of a Tesla in 2021 had already drawn attention, partly due to her parking illegally outside a Whole Foods store in Washington, D.C. Additionally, she had voiced disappointment over the lack of returns on investment from public subsidies directed towards Tesla, arguing that when the public invests in new technologies, they should expect a return on that investment. Some accused Ocasio-Cortez of hypocrisy for purchasing a Tesla after her earlier criticisms of the company.
The situation escalated when Ocasio-Cortez engaged in a Twitter feud with Elon Musk himself. Musk playfully told her to stop flirting with him, prompting her to complain about billionaires with ego issues controlling communication platforms. Musk responded in jest, saying, "Stop hitting on me, I'm really shy," which earned him further ridicule. This online spat only served to intensify the criticism of Ocasio-Cortez and the perplexity surrounding her Tesla purchase.
