AOC’s Munich gaffes reveal possible 2028 challenges

Published February 18, 2026 5:00am ET



Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez‘s (D-NY) international debut at the Munich Security Conference was supposed to showcase her readiness for a possible 2028 bid for Senate or the White House. Instead, it exposed foreign policy missteps that sparked mockery and renewed questions about whether the progressive firebrand is ready for prime time.

Ocasio-Cortez claimed at the conference that Venezuela was located “below the equator,” while attacking President Donald Trump over last month’s capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. She also struggled to give a clear answer when asked whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by communist China.

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