Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reacted to a recent Washington Post story with what seemed like an inflammatory accusation against President Donald Trump.
The New York Democrat tweeted an eyebrow-raising comment with no factual basis on Friday, responding to a story published Thursday in The Washington Post about a wealthy Iraqi sheikh who spent 26 nights in a suite at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“Sure looks like powerful people are trying to bribe the President into war,” the freshman lawmaker said, linking to a tweet by one of the article’s authors, David Fahrentold.
Sure looks like powerful people are trying to bribe the President into war. https://t.co/e4L4YcrGKp
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 7, 2019
Citing “leaked documents detailing 1,200+ different stays” of “VIP Arrivals” listed at the Trump property, the Post report noted Nahro al-Kasnazan’s stay was the lengthiest. And his nearly four-week check-in at the establishment came weeks after he reportedly wrote a letter to national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about his desire “to achieve our mutual interest to weaken the Iranian Mullahs regime and end its hegemony.”
NEW: We got leaked documents detailing 1,200+ different stays at @realDonaldTrump‘s hotel. Here’s the guest who stayed the longest: a sheikh who wants to be president of Iraq, and who wants the U.S. to strike Iran.
He spent 26 nights in a suite.https://t.co/d4qF2xTE8t— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) June 6, 2019
Despite the sheikh noting he was in town for medical treatment and not for political reasons, the Post report went on to note:
His long visit is an example of how Trump’s D.C. hotel, a popular gathering place for Republican politicians and people with government business, has become a favorite stopover for influential foreigners who have an agenda to pursue with the Trump administration.
A gallery of would-be foreign leaders — including exiles and upstarts who cannot always rely on a state-to-state channel to reach Trump’s government — have been gliding through the polished lobby of the Trump hotel since it opened in 2016.
State Department officials reportedly did not know of any official meetings with Kasnazan who was described by the Post as someone “advocating for a U.S. military confrontation with Iran” and “considers himself a viable candidate to become president of Iraq.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet further stirred the pot as she read between the lines to make her remark. Naturally she found an audience on the left ready to pounce on the accusation as fact.
Rent a suite – get a complimentary war.
— Industrial Tape (@IndustrialTape1) June 7, 2019
Nothing sketchy to see here. Nope. All business as usual.
When you profit from war you find ways to wage endless war. (And, at the cost of the lives of others.)
— Matt Gullatta (@MGullatta) June 7, 2019
What’s tragic is that many people who don’t bury their heads in the sand about foreign policy are thinking “Well of COURSE rich and powerful men are bribing the president to go to war.” Corruption has become too normalized and cynics enable it.
— La Renarde En Rose? (@threetails) June 7, 2019
Trump Hotel TripAdvisor reviews:
“Check-In is easy, you just slip the money under the table!”
“The laundry services are excellent. My money never looked so clean and pressed!”
“The concierge (I think his name is Jared Kushner) is extremely helpful.”
???— Santa Claus, CEO (@SantaInc) June 7, 2019
But not everyone was drinking that conspiracy Kool-Aid, and many Twitter users called out the “baseless accusation” as well the attempt by Ocasio-Cortez to just “get your supporters frothing.”
People are paying money to stay in a hotel. This happens every day.
— Steph (@steph93065) June 7, 2019
Trump owns a hotel.
A sheikh stays at Trumps hotel for 26 nights.
Therefore, we are going to war!Great logic!
— ⏳ Mark ⏰ (@MarkHess1052) June 7, 2019
Can’t wait to hear how this anything but a baseless accusation.
— tyrannicalterrier (@troymac20) June 7, 2019
Ummm Congress declares war. WTF with this one
— anthony polini (@pdog999) June 7, 2019
This can be taken out of context…might as well list all of the guest and see what conclusions can be derived…I’m not a Trump supporter, but come on
— DJBulls (@dj1234511) June 7, 2019
According to @AOC, people are bribing Trump to go to war by staying in his hotels.
Meanwhile, @KamalaHarris is shouting from rooftops, “Vote for me and I will give you cash.” No bribing there!— Bansi Sharma (@bansisharma) June 7, 2019
Thanks for your input. pic.twitter.com/HpDzGtYl1P
— Guillo O’Sullivan (@wjsullivanii) June 7, 2019
You’re going to have to elaborate on that. Be specific.
— Justin (@_ThisJustin_) June 7, 2019
I think you’re reeeeeeally teaching here man. These are crumbs at best
— [FREN] Hick (@AfloatHickory) June 7, 2019
NARRATOR: AOC is a moron. https://t.co/vTrPkPx6Ab
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 7, 2019
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Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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