Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) found herself on the receiving end of social media backlash after attempting to smear Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) with a snarky tweet—only for it to backfire spectacularly.
In a tweet that sought to jab both Greene and Alito, AOC wrote, “Who did you learn that from, Samuel Alito?” This comment was in response to a photo posted by Greene showing an upside-down American flag, a symbol traditionally used to signal distress or protest against government actions. The timing was particularly provocative, occurring just after former President Donald Trump’s conviction by what many conservatives are calling a “kangaroo court” in Manhattan.
Who did you learn that from, Samuel Alito? https://t.co/MeMQneci2i
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2024
Conservatives quickly came to the defense of both Alito and Greene, unleashing a torrent of criticism against Ocasio-Cortez. They accused her of exploiting a symbol of genuine dissent for cheap political points. As noted by Fox News, this isn’t the first time AOC has targeted Alito. She previously called for an investigation into the justice during an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, suggesting that his association with the inverted flag aligns him with those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. “Samuel Alito has identified himself with the same people who raided the Capitol on Jan. 6, and is now going to be presiding over court cases that have deep implications over the participants of that rally,” she proclaimed. “And while this is the threat to our democracy, Democrats have a responsibility for defending our democracy.”
Justice Alito and his wife have been under fire since his wife flew an upside-down American flag at their property back in January 2021, a nod to the escalating political tensions of the time. A New York Times article attempted to link Alito to “election deniers” without concrete evidence, which Democrats seized upon, demanding his recusal from cases related to the January 6 protests and vowing further investigations.
The upside-down flag has a storied history as a sign of protest, utilized by Americans across the political spectrum for decades. Recently, it has become a de facto emblem for those critical of Trump’s conviction, including figures like Greene. For AOC to mock this symbol in her tweet was seen by many conservatives as an egregious misstep.
Your district is disgusting. Get off your phone and pick up some trash.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) May 31, 2024
The House Idiot is babbling again. Must be a slow day at the bar.
— JJ Pesavento (@rdrhwke) May 31, 2024
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 31, 2024
https://twitter.com/BenStanton77/status/1796352620237349211
https://twitter.com/MAGAMichelleS69/status/1796347350480289947
I’m surprised you recognized it without it being on fire
— Dr Strangetweet Or How I Learned To Love The RT (@lone_rides) May 31, 2024
The only two flags AOC won’t burn: pic.twitter.com/5O67BwiIeD
— Scarlett Johnson (@scarlett4kids) May 31, 2024
In a time when political discourse is more polarized than ever, this episode serves as a reminder that weaponizing social media can have unpredictable outcomes. While AOC might have aimed to discredit a conservative justice and a Republican representative, she instead highlighted the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced by snarky tweets and partisan accusations.
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