Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was slammed on social media after sharing photos of her grandmother’s Hurricane Maria-ravaged home in Puerto Rico.
Twitter users questioned why the self-described democratic socialist didn’t “redistribute” her wealth to her own grandmother.
“Just over a week ago, my abuela fell ill,” Ocasio-Cortez began. “I went to Puerto Rico to see her- my 1st time in a year+ bc of COVID.
“This is her home,” the congresswoman added, posting a picture of a dwelling with a damaged roof, little dresser, and no bedding. “Hurricane María relief hasn’t arrived. Trump blocked relief $ for PR. People are being forced to flee ancestral homes, & developers are taking them.”
Ocasio-Cortez continued to blame the former president Trump and local politicians over the distribution of aid following the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
“And for the record – my abuela is doing okay. It’s not about us, but about what’s happening to Puerto Rican’s across the island,” she concluded. “She had a place to go to and be cared for – what about the thousands of people who don’t?”
Twitter users mentioned AOC’s salary as a New York congresswoman is $174,000,
“Shameful that you live in luxury while allowing your own grandmother to suffer in these squalid conditions,” Daily Wire host Matt Walsh tweeted.
“Honey, you drive a Tesla and have two apartments,” Florida GOP congressional candidate Lavern Spicer noted. “If your grandmother is living poor that’s because you don’t help her out. I’m surprised that a socialist wouldn’t redistribute that wealth to their grandma. Sad!”
“Sell your Tesla!” added Twitter user @beyondreasdoubt. “You should be ashamed for letting her live like this. We have a responsibility to care for our elders!”
Ocasio-Cortez has an apartment in her home district in New York City and a luxury apartment in Washington, D.C. where one bedroom units start at $2,000 for a studio apartment to over $5,000 for a three-bedroom. The congresswoman also owns a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, which retails for between $46,000 and $59,000.
Other Twitter users took issue with AOC blaming Trump for her grandmother’s dilapidated apartment.
“So you agree, the government is incompetent with getting relief $ to the people and would be better done through voluntarily contributions?” asked the Libertarian Party of Tennessee’s official account.
“I just spent a week in Puerto Rico: everywhere from San Juan to eastern coast and western coast,” another user chimed in. “I never spoke to a single resident that thought anything was Trumps fault but instead LITERALLY EVERYONE said the Puerto Rican government sucks”.
“Cousins in San Juan say that the local government is taking the money and not doing anything,” another user agreed. “He described it as what Wyclef did with the Haiti relief money. Are you willing to investigate that?”
Ocasio-Cortez hit back at Walsh, saying: “You don’t even have a concept for the role that 1st-gen, first-born daughters play in their families. My abuela is okay. But instead of only caring for mine & letting others suffer, I’m calling attention to the systemic injustices you seem totally fine w/ in having a US colony.”
“You used your grandmother’s suffering to score political points. You’re the one who publicized this,” Walsh retorted. “So I am entitled now to ask why you haven’t bothered to fix your grandmother’s collapsing roof or buy her some new furniture? Why are you waiting for the government to do it?”