Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticises Piers Morgan for mocking her former job as a bartender

'Imagine if more people in power spent years of their lives actually working for a living'

Sarah Jones
Monday 01 July 2019 05:18 EDT
Comments
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she believes a system that allows people to become billionaires is 'immoral'

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has hit back at Piers Morgan after he mocked the New York Democrat’s bartending past.

On Sunday, the Good Morning Britain presenter responded to a tweet Ocasio-Cortez posted in which she criticised Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, for being too unqualified to attend the G-20 summit alongside the likes of Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron.

“Could be worse … Ivanka could have been a bar-tender 18 months ago [sic],” Morgan wrote on Twitter.

Ocasio-Cortez worked as a bartender and as a waitress at a restaurant in Union Square before she defeated Joe Crowley in the June 2018 Democratic primary race to become the youngest congresswoman in United States history.

The 29-year-old responded to Morgan’s gibe with a tweet of her own, writing: “Actually, that would make government better – not worse.

“Imagine if more people in power spent years of their lives actually working for a living,” she continued.

“We’d probably have healthcare and living wages by now.”

The discussion sparked a flurry of scathing responses from supporters of Ocasio-Cortez, with many pointing out that the politician is an elected official, while Trump is not.

“Good point, Piers. Remember when the people elected Trump’s kids and in-laws?” one person wrote.

Andrew Neil, presenter of Politics Live, added: “Not really. A bartender who makes it to Congress is quite something. A pretty blonde who marries into the billionaire class, not so much.”

Others questioned why Morgan was condemning Ocasio-Cortez for having a job.

“Bartending is a career and has requisite qualifications that are relevant to a myriad of issues,” one person wrote.

“Just being someone’s daughter is neither a career nor does it have any qualification requirement.”

Nish Kumar, a British comedian, added: “That would have been great because then she would have had a job.”

The exchange began on Sunday when Ocasio-Cortez took issue with Trump’s daughter for attended the meeting of world leaders in Japan last week.

In a video shared by Ocasio-Cortez, Trump is seen attempting and failing to participate in a discussion alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Theresa May, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Also present was Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

“It may be shocking to some, but being someone’s daughter actually isn’t a career qualification,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter.

“It hurts our diplomatic standing when the President phones it in & the world moves on. The US needs our President working the G20. Bringing a qualified diplomat couldn’t hurt either.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s initial tweet received 191,000 likes and more than 37,000 re-tweets.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in