U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was dragged on social media after defending a drag queen’s “impressive work in climate, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and racial justice.”

The New York Democrat chimed in on a post on X after Bloomberg congressional reporter, Steven Dennis, shared a photo online from the Seabte basement. The glaring optics emphasized how bizarre it looked to see someone “dressed like a tree” in that context.

Someone in Senate basement dressed like a tree. pic.twitter.com/qcrwUOewfS

— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) April 16, 2024

But AOC soon rushed in to school Dennis and anyone else who needed to know what a “queen” the tree impersonator really was.

“That’s not just someone, that’s a queen!” she wrote, adding emojis of a crown and a tree.

That’s not just someone, that’s a queen!

I know Pattie Gonia when I see her and y’all just aren’t put on to their genius yet.

Wonderful artist and really impressive work in climate, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and racial justice. https://t.co/8aJKCrNKtO

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 17, 2024

“I know Pattie Gonia when I see her and y’all just aren’t put on to their genius yet,” the congresswoman added. “Wonderful artist and really impressive work in climate, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and racial justice.”

Wyn Wiley, known professionally as Pattie Gonia, was one of nine 2024 “Travelers of the Year” named by National Geographic this year.

Of course the National Geographic ‘Traveller of the Year’ is a Transgender. pic.twitter.com/u5yX7rKf3B

— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) February 14, 2024

But Ocasio-Cortez’s rush to defend and praise the drag queen earned her mockery and scorn on social media.

A strange man put on a pink wig and glued branches to himself and AOC’s ideology requires her to pretend he’s a genius https://t.co/6IDoXLyBFO

— Amber Duke (@ambermarieduke) April 17, 2024

You are not a serious person.

— Savanah Hernandez (@sav_says_) April 17, 2024

I legitimately thought this was your parody account.

— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) April 17, 2024

You pander to a person who dresses as a tree, and prove to the world that you will say and do anything to retain your position and power.

When a clown moves into a castle, the clown doesn’t become a king, but rather, the palace becomes a circus.

Sure, Trump is the problem. https://t.co/h9SHZwKEfB

— Kathleen Anderson (@KathleenforUtah) April 17, 2024

That’s a dude pretending to be a woman.

— Burt Macklin (@BurtMaclin_FBI) April 17, 2024

How much are we paying you to simp for drag queens?

— Heidi (@HeidiBriones) April 17, 2024

THEIR genius? I see one person, dressed like a tree. What makes him a genius? Your list of jobs and accomplishments read like someone who needs student loans forgiven and probably therapy. https://t.co/UJH8W8gulb

— Texas sᥲᥣᥕᥲᥱr ᘜIᖇᒪ 2 (@HappyHappyTexan) April 17, 2024

What’s amazing with AOC is that she makes it almost impossible to distinguish between the real her and her parody account.@AOCpressTwo https://t.co/cjqzy9k34a

— Garrett Vergenvrac (@GVergenvrac) April 17, 2024

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Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
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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