Even supporters of President Donald Trump are beginning to gravitate toward Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), as evidenced by a new message left for her outside her office on Friday.
As she was about to leave her office for the day after gaveling the House into adjournment and becoming the youngest woman to preside over it, Ocasio Cortez noticed a sign on the wall next to her door that read “Trump supporters for Ocasio-Cortez.”
Needless to say, she couldn’t believe it. After all, Trump and his conservative base have spent months demonizing her. Surely, they couldn’t possibly support her.
But that’s exactly the case, and the reason they support her is because of her stance on climate change, as she would explain while recounting her encounter with her newest fans.
About an hour ago, I was walking out of my office for the day.
There was a man what I believe was his teenage son hanging a small sign they made outside my office (we let people leave well wishes on our wall).
Astonishingly, his sign read: “Trump supporters for Ocasio-Cortez.” pic.twitter.com/IjVKbvetEI
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
I was pretty astonished.
We shook hands, he introduced himself, and told me he wanted to show his support.
I could barely get my question out – I wanted to honor his positivity, yet respectfully find a way to ask, “How?”
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
I somehow got it out: “With all respect sir, how do you… manage to support both of us at the same time?”
This is what he said:
“I’ve been saying for years that climate change is our most important crisis. You’re one of the only ones who‘s been willing to be decisive on it.”— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
Then he said, “I like you. I can tell that you are genuine and fighting for us. You’re real and you get it.”
I thanked him and his family from the bottom of my heart.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
As hard as it is to believe, even some conservatives realize that the planet is in trouble and that the Green New Deal represents a better future for our country and the world.
Ocasio-Cortez went on to explain that it’s politicians and lobbyists who are getting in the way of real change.
All of this is to say don’t let any politician, no matter the party, lecture you about what is “possible” or “electable.”
Don’t ever let a politician imply that working people are “less-than” or “uneducated” – aka that they are the ones in the way of solving the climate crisis.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
The forces getting in the way of solving our climate crisis are politicians themselves + lobbyists. It is the willingness to bend to corporate power – the same ones that use coal miners’ plights for a tax break, yet refuse to pay for those same miners’ healthcare for black lung.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
If you don’t understand this man’s sign – or don’t approach it with a desire to – then you do not understand this political moment.
The same folks who said Trump was impossible in 2016 are the same ones lecturing on what’s “electable” in 2020.
Don’t buy it. Vote your values.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
Of course, Trump supporters are going to accuse her of faking this interesting turn of events. But stranger things have happened in politics. Just because some people support Trump, it doesn’t mean they support his views on climate change, an issue that has soared in importance to the American people in recent months, especially since AOC has spent a lot of time stressing how dire the threat is to us.
Perhaps Trump’s rhetoric about climate change and the Republican attacks against Ocasio-Cortez are backfiring and making her more popular. And her willingness to meet with these Trump supporters and talk to them shows how approachable she is and that she truly cares about the lives of all Americans no matter which party they happen to support.
Featured Image: Screenshot
