Pelosi Snaps at Reporter Over AOC’s Role in Shutdown Drama

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at a reporter on Wednesday when confronted with the suggestion that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is the one truly steering the Democrats’ decision to block government funding.

On Tuesday night, Senate Democrats under Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted down a continuing resolution that would have kept the government open. The measure, which had already passed the House with a simple majority, fell short in the Senate on a 55-45 vote — below the 60 votes needed to overcome debate.

When a reporter pressed Pelosi with the question many Republicans are asking — whether Ocasio-Cortez is directing the strategy — the California Democrat snapped:

“Why are you saying such a ridiculous thing?” Pelosi shot back.

The reporter responded that he was merely quoting Ocasio-Cortez herself, who had invited senators to “go to her office directly.”

Pelosi doubled down, insisting, “She’s not directing this. She’s wonderful. She’s a real team player and the rest of that.” Pelosi then shifted blame away from AOC, declaring:

“You started by saying, ‘Republicans say’ that she’s directing this. She is not. [New York Rep.] Hakeem Jeffries is. This takes a lot of experience, a lot of unity from the caucus, in terms of the point of view.”

Pelosi attempted to soften the exchange by calling Ocasio-Cortez “an articulate spokesperson for her point of view” but maintained that Jeffries was leading the caucus.

Vance: Shutdown Driven by Radical Left Agenda

From the White House briefing room, Vice President J.D. Vance offered a blunt assessment of why Democrats forced the shutdown:

“They want to give health care benefits to illegal aliens,” Vance said. “That is true. They gave us legislative text that would have undone us cutting off health care benefits for illegal aliens.”

Vance went further, cutting to the heart of the political calculus driving Democrats:

“The reality here — and let’s be honest about the politics — is that Chuck Schumer is terrified that he’s going to get a primary challenge from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The reason why the American people’s government is shut down is because Chuck Schumer is listening to the far-left radicals in his own party because he’s terrified of a primary challenge.”

AOC Taunts GOP Senators

Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez appeared to revel in the drama, telling MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on Tuesday night:

“If [GOP] senators think that we’re having a shutdown because of me, they’re free to enter my office and negotiate.”

She added:

“So come strike a deal with me, if that’s what they think is really going on.”

While Pelosi insists her protégé is not pulling the strings, AOC seems more than happy to play into the image of a left-wing power broker. And as Vice President Vance made clear, the real losers in this standoff are the American people — whose government is being held hostage to appease the Democrat Party’s most radical voices.