Los Angeles, California, April 14, 2025 – Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sharply criticized President Donald Trump during a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Los Angeles on April 12, stating, “When Trump talks about rapists and criminals, he should look in the mirror!!” The comment, posted on X by
@acyn and credited to Occupy Democrats, came hours after Trump’s rally in the same city, where he labeled immigrants as “rapists and criminals” while discussing his mass deportation policies, specifically targeting Venezuelan gangs like Tren de Aragua.
Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks, delivered to a crowd of 36,000 alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, referenced Trump’s legal history to highlight perceived hypocrisy. In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s, ordering him to pay $5 million in damages, per The New York Times. Additionally, Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in 2024 for falsifying business records in a hush-money scheme. Ocasio-Cortez argued that Trump’s rhetoric scapegoats immigrants while ignoring his own actions, aligning with her broader critique of his administration’s policies, including the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, which she has called “state-sanctioned cruelty.”
The rally, part of a progressive push to mobilize young voters, underscored ongoing tensions between Democrats and Trump’s administration. Trump’s speech earlier that day focused on his deportation efforts, which have intensified since a January 2025 national emergency declaration at the southern border, drawing both support and condemnation. Ocasio-Cortez’s comment specifically aimed to redirect the narrative, framing Trump’s attacks on immigrants as a deflection from his own record.
Public reaction on X is divided. Supporters like
@JusticeForAll praised Ocasio-Cortez for exposing Trump’s hypocrisy, while others, such as
@MAGAWarrior, dismissed her remarks as a “cheap shot,” arguing she overlooks crime rates tied to illegal immigration. As of 8:00 PM EDT on April 14, the exchange highlights the deepening rift over immigration policy and accountability in Trump’s second term, with Ocasio-Cortez’s words resonating as a call for scrutiny of the president’s actions amid his administration’s controversial policies.
