House Speaker Mike Johnson sharply rebuked Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez following her criticisms of him during a CNN town hall on the government shutdown. Ocasio-Cortez accused Johnson of punishing Americans and demanded concessions from President Donald Trump on healthcare and other issues. Johnson called her comments comical yet dangerous, labeling her and Senator Bernie Sanders as leaders of a Marxist shift in the Democratic Party.
During a CNN town hall focused on the ongoing government shutdown, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) teamed up with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to criticize House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Ocasio-Cortez accused Johnson of 'choosing to punish the American people' and vowed not to 'enable it by acquiescing and enabling the behavior of bullies.' She declared, 'So it ends today,' and urged, 'If I were Mike Johnson, you should be in that office negotiating with Hakeem Jeffries every damn day until we reopen this government.'
Ocasio-Cortez also rejected a 'measly one-year extension of the ACA,' insisting that 'health care is a human right … the minimum wage should be a living wage in this country … [and] public colleges and universities should be tuition-free.' These demands were directed toward President Donald Trump amid shutdown negotiations.
In response, during an appearance on Fox News, host Laura Ingraham questioned whether Ocasio-Cortez realistically expected Trump to yield, asking, 'Does AOC, does she have both oars in the water here, thinking that the president is going to bow down to these demands?'
Johnson replied, 'With every ounce of Christian character that I can muster, Laura, let me just say, bless her heart.' He added, 'This would be comical if it were not so dangerous. You’re looking at the two leaders of the modern Democratic Party. We say all the time, “This is not your father’s party.” It’s not. These guys are full Marxists. You hear how vapid their ideology is; what empty suits they are.'
Johnson argued that Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders were dragging the Democratic Party's old guard, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, into conflict. He pointed to Schumer's opposition to a 'clean CR' to fund the government for 21 additional days until November 21—seven more weeks—as driven by fear of Ocasio-Cortez challenging him. 'There’s a rise of Marxism in the party; it’s happening in New York, in their state, and he’s terrified,' Johnson said. 'That’s why everybody around the country is feeling such pain right now, because of this nonsense.'
The exchange highlighted deepening partisan divides over the shutdown and appropriations process.