President Donald Trump stated that progressive Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are actively trying to disavow policy positions they once championed, such as defunding police departments and supporting sanctuary cities.
During an interview with Fox News, Trump observed that these politicians are attempting to distance themselves from "radical positions" they previously advocated. He specifically mentioned their past support for sanctuary cities, which he characterized as "a disaster" that "cause crime." Trump also referenced a shift away from "no cash bail" policies, suggesting that some Democrats are now trying to distance themselves from such stances.
Ocasio-Cortez, when asked on ABC's "This Week" about controversial comments made by socialist candidates, referred to a local city councilman's saying, "'Woke 1 was crazy.'" She added, "I think that what’s important is that we have to assess what a candidate is saying now." The term "Woke 1" has been used to describe social justice activism and political rhetoric from around 2019 and 2020, which included calls for abolishing police and prisons, eliminating cash bail, and advocating for open borders.
Trump suggested that this distancing from past rhetoric is a broad trend among progressive Democrats, claiming, "They're all saying the same thing." He believes that policies like those associated with sanctuary cities will begin to end due to their perceived negative impact. The congresswoman has not ruled out a future presidential run but has stated her focus remains on the upcoming November midterm elections. Ocasio-Cortez's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.