President Donald Trump is once again taking aim at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), ridiculing the progressive lawmaker over her performance at the Munich Security Conference and drawing a sharp contrast between her and two of his top administration officials.
Speaking Monday from the Oval Office, President Trump revived the “World War Eleven” joke during remarks on Monday while criticizing Democratic lawmakers, referencing a viral gaffe by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). The phrase stems from a resurfaced January 2025 clip in which Omar mistakenly referred to World War II as “World War Eleven” while reading prepared remarks about the Alien Enemies Act.
Trump referenced Ocasio-Cortez’s participation in the high-profile international gathering and suggested she struggled to answer basic foreign policy questions. He then compared her performance to that of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“AOC has no idea, what a simple question, what happened when she was over in Switzerland!” Trump said. “Then I watched somebody like JD or Marco. I said, ‘what a difference a brain makes!’”
Trump’s criticism stems from Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, where she represented a progressive counterpoint to the Trump administration’s foreign policy agenda.
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During one widely discussed exchange, Ocasio-Cortez appeared to pause for an extended period before answering a question about whether the United States should commit troops to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. The moment was heavily circulated online and became a focal point for critics.
The New York congresswoman also drew criticism after incorrectly suggesting that Venezuela is located below the equator while discussing U.S. policy toward the South American nation.
Trump previously addressed Ocasio-Cortez’s Munich appearance while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One. At the time, he said her performance was “not a good look for the United States” and argued that she appeared unprepared to address important international issues.
“She had no idea what was happening,” Trump said of the congresswoman. “She had no idea how to answer very important questions concerning the world.”
By contrast, Trump praised members of his administration, particularly Vance and Rubio, both of whom have become prominent figures in the administration’s foreign policy efforts. Rubio has served as the administration’s chief diplomat, while Vance has emerged as one of the White House’s most visible advocates on international issues.
“Our Secretary [Rubio] is fantastic. I think he’s maybe going to go down as the best ever,” Trump said. “I thought J.D. Vance this morning was fantastic. I watched his news conference from Switzerland. He’s a very smart guy. He did a great job. You know, when I look at the Democrats, I call them the Dumbocrats,” the president finished.
The president’s latest comments come as speculation continues about the future of both parties ahead of the 2028 election cycle. Ocasio-Cortez is frequently mentioned as a leading voice on the Democratic left, while Vance is widely viewed as a potential Republican standard-bearer after Trump’s second term.
