AOC Faces Bipartisan Criticism Over Munich Conference Gaffes

Congresswoman's foreign policy missteps on Venezuela and Taiwan draw rebukes from GOP, Democrats, and Catholic Church

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) faced widespread criticism from both Republicans and Democrats after making several high-profile gaffes during her appearance at the Munich Security Conference. Her struggles to articulate clear positions on issues like U.S. involvement in Taiwan and her inaccurate claims about the location of Venezuela were widely mocked, with critics saying she is "not ready for prime time on the international stage."

Why it matters

As a rumored 2028 presidential contender, Ocasio-Cortez's performance at the high-profile Munich conference was seen as an opportunity to showcase her foreign policy expertise. However, her missteps have raised doubts about her readiness to handle complex global issues, potentially damaging her political ambitions.

The details

During the conference, Ocasio-Cortez claimed that Venezuela was located "below the equator" when it is actually in the Northern Hemisphere. She also gave a rambling, incoherent response when asked if the U.S. should defend Taiwan against a potential Chinese invasion, prompting comparisons to a viral Miss Teen USA pageant answer. Critics from both parties, as well as a Catholic bishop, lambasted Ocasio-Cortez for her performance, with one Democratic strategist saying she "showed a complete lack of chops about international issues."

  • Ocasio-Cortez made the remarks at the Munich Security Conference on February 17, 2026.

The players

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

A Democratic Congresswoman from New York who is rumored to be a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

Hank Sheinkopf

A New York Democratic strategist who criticized Ocasio-Cortez's performance at the Munich conference.

Matt Whitlock

A Republican strategist who also criticized Ocasio-Cortez's response on Taiwan as a "word salad."

Bishop Robert Barron

A Catholic bishop who expressed concern over Ocasio-Cortez's Marxist rhetoric at the conference.

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What they’re saying

“It was a beauty pageant to show that she had some chops about international issues, and she showed a complete lack of chops about international issues.”

— Hank Sheinkopf, New York Democratic strategist (The Hill)

“She's not ready for prime time on the international stage.”

— Hank Sheinkopf, New York Democratic strategist (The Hill)

“Who gave the better answer to a foreign policy question: AOC or Miss South Carolina?”

— Clay Travis, OutKick founder (Twitter)

“As a religious leader, this is concerning me quite a bit. Take a look, everybody, attend to the language, in a way they're telling us who they are and what they're for, and I think that should be very concerning to everybody.”

— Bishop Robert Barron, Catholic Bishop (Interview)

What’s next

The criticism of Ocasio-Cortez's performance at the Munich conference is likely to continue, potentially impacting her political future and any presidential ambitions she may have. It remains to be seen how she will respond to the backlash and whether she can recover from these high-profile gaffes.

The takeaway

Ocasio-Cortez's struggles at the Munich Security Conference have raised serious doubts about her foreign policy expertise and readiness for the global stage, potentially undermining her political aspirations. This episode highlights the importance of thorough preparation and command of the issues for any politician seeking to play a prominent role in international affairs.