Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is leveraging “groundless hysteria” to rally campaign support from her far-left constituency, by claiming that President Trump and other Republicans are responsible for children’s deaths by rejecting the health-care demands of Democrats, according to a White House representative who spoke to The Post on Saturday.
“If AOC genuinely cared about the well-being of America’s youth, she would not be inciting unfounded panic and would urge her fellow Democrats to reopen the federal government, reinstating assurance for the millions of children dependent on WIC and other federal assistance programs,” stated White House spokesman Kush Desai.
Desai’s comments came in response to an unusual fundraising email sent by the Democratic socialist on Thursday, asking for “grassroots” donations of $5 or more, wherein she claimed that Trump “suddenly decided” that “he wants to ensure kids are dying due to lack of insurance.”
“This issue is about enabling families to insure their children,” remarked Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of The Bronx and Queens and is reportedly considering a presidential run or a Senate bid in 2028.
“I must address what some Senators have been speculating, and I’ve heard Republican members of Congress say, ‘If there is a shutdown, it’s because of AOC’ — my office is open, and they have every opportunity to come in and negotiate with me directly.
“What I will not allow is for 4 million uninsured Americans to suffer because Donald Trump one day decided he wants to ensure children die without access to insurance. That will not happen.”
The federal government partially shut down at midnight Wednesday, shortly after all but three Senate Democrats voted against a temporary funding bill.
Ocasio-Cortez and other Democratic leaders are advocating for a one-year extension on tax credits that have made health care significantly more affordable for millions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also insist that any government funding legislation must reverse the Medicaid cuts contained within Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ passed earlier this summer, which, while not immediately taking effect, are already prompting some states to reduce Medicaid payments to healthcare providers.
