AOC Stumbles on Taiwan Question at Munich Security Conference

Congresswoman gives rambling, non-committal response when asked about U.S. troops defending Taiwan from China.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave a lengthy, unclear response when asked at the Munich Security Conference whether the U.S. should send troops to defend Taiwan if China invaded. The progressive lawmaker, who is rumored to be considering a 2028 presidential run, did not provide a clear 'yes' or 'no' answer to the question.

Why it matters

AOC's performance on the global stage underscores her relative inexperience in foreign policy matters, an area where she is less known compared to her signature domestic policy positions. Her rambling, non-committal response to the Taiwan question raises questions about her preparedness to handle complex geopolitical issues as a potential future presidential candidate.

The details

When asked by a Bloomberg Television reporter whether the U.S. should commit troops to defend Taiwan if China invaded, Ocasio-Cortez gave a 40-second response that did not directly answer the question. She spoke in a rambling, unclear manner, saying the U.S. wants to 'avoid any such confrontation' without specifying whether troops should be sent. AOC also did not rule out a potential 2028 presidential run when asked about it.

  • On February 14, 2026, Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the 62nd Annual Munich Security Conference in Germany.
  • The Bloomberg Television interview with Ocasio-Cortez took place on February 14, 2026 at the Munich Security Conference.

The players

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

A Democratic Congresswoman from New York who is a leader of the party's far-left flank and a rumored 2028 presidential candidate.

Francine Lacqua

A Bloomberg Television reporter who interviewed Ocasio-Cortez at the Munich Security Conference.

Katrin Bennhold

A New York Times reporter who asked Ocasio-Cortez about a potential 2028 presidential run at the Munich Security Conference.

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What they’re saying

“You know, I think that — uh — this is such a — you know, I think that this is a — this is, of course a — uh — a very long standing policy of the United States. And, I think what we are hoping for is that we want to make sure that we never get to that point.”

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congresswoman (Bloomberg Television)

What’s next

Ocasio-Cortez's performance at the Munich Security Conference is likely to draw scrutiny and further questions about her foreign policy expertise as speculation continues around a potential 2028 presidential run.

The takeaway

Ocasio-Cortez's rambling, unclear response on the Taiwan question underscores her relative inexperience in foreign policy matters compared to her signature domestic policy positions. This raises questions about her preparedness to handle complex geopolitical issues as a potential future presidential candidate.