Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in September 2024.
When a car battery dies, most people reach for jumper cables or call AAA. But for one Capitol Hill staffer, the solution came in the form of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The progressive New York lawmaker made headlines after assisting a stranded motorist near the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11. The driver in distress? Evan Hollander, aide and driver for Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.).
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a video posted on Instagram, Photo Credit: aoc/Instagram
Her chief of staff, Mike Casca, wasted no time turning the moment into a social media spectacle. He posted a photo of Ocasio-Cortez working under the hood of the car, captioning it:
“When your car battery expires on the Capitol plaza, instead of calling AAA you just need @AOC.”
The post quickly went viral, racking up millions of views and sparking a flurry of reactions. While some users cheered Ocasio-Cortez for stepping up, others saw it as yet another orchestrated PR stunt.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez donating turkeys from photo posted on Instagram, Photo Credit: aoc/Instagram
Praise from the Left, Mockery from the Right
Supporters of the self-proclaimed democratic socialist were quick to celebrate her act of service.
“AOC gets there quicker than AAA,” one X user quipped.
“And here I was thinking that I couldn’t respect her more,” another admirer raved.
But not everyone was impressed. Many questioned why Hollander, a grown man working on Capitol Hill, needed help with such a simple task.
“Don’t think anyone is shocked this dork needed help,” one critic quipped.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Mill Brook Houses Family Day, Photo Credit: aoc/Instagram
Another weighed in, “What kind of man doesn’t know how to use jumper cables?”
And the ridicule didn’t stop there.
‘Beta Males’ and a ‘Staged’ Moment?
Beyond roasting Hollander for his lack of car maintenance skills, many commenters zeroed in on the two Capitol Police officers standing idly by as Ocasio-Cortez worked.
“Bunch of men standing around while the woman does the work,” one user pointed out.
“This picture sums up DC men perfectly. This is the beta male starter pack,” another joked.
“Three useless men in one picture,” another person remarked.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looks under the hood of a stranded motorist’s car; Photo Credit: mike casca/X
But the harshest criticism came from those who suspected the entire situation was staged to make AOC look like a hero.
“This is the most obviously set-up thing I’ve ever seen,” one person alleged.
“You have to be completely brain-dead not to know how to jump a car,” another added.
Another Viral Moment for AOC
Whether you see it as a genuine good deed or just another carefully crafted publicity stunt, one thing is clear—AOC knows how to dominate a news cycle. This latest viral moment adds to the long list of social media spectacles that keep her in the spotlight.
