Fox News host Laura Ingraham offered an unexpected compliment to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) during Thursday’s edition of The Ingraham Angle, describing the progressive lawmaker as “an attractive millennial with a powerful surface appeal,” while also questioning her political positions and qualifications.
The discussion began after Ingraham played a clip of Ocasio-Cortez dismissing speculation that she is considering a run for president in 2028. Responding to the congresswoman’s remarks, Ingraham said she believed Ocasio-Cortez’s denial.
“I actually kind of believe her. I’m not sure she’s obsessing about it right now,” Ingraham said before adding a jab at the New York Democrat: “Has she weighed anything seriously ever?”
The Fox News host then turned to a clip from 2018, when Ocasio-Cortez was asked about her use of the word “occupation” to describe Israel’s actions in Palestine. During that interview, the congresswoman acknowledged she was not an expert on the issue.
“I am not the expert on geopolitics on this issue,” Ocasio-Cortez said in the archival footage.
Despite criticizing the congresswoman throughout the segment, Ingraham acknowledged what she viewed as one of Ocasio-Cortez’s political strengths.
“Well, gotta give her credit,” Ingraham said. “She didn’t know much — still won.”
The Fox News host went on to argue that Ocasio-Cortez’s public image has contributed significantly to her political success.
“But the fact is, AOC is an attractive millennial with a powerful surface appeal,” Ingraham said. “With her long, sleek raven hair and red lipstick, she’s at times played dual roles — kind of the earnest activist, up from her bootstraps, who wants to stick it to the man, and then at times, she’s kind of played the girly-girl who shares her favorite recipe on TikTok.”
Ingraham also suggested that Ocasio-Cortez return to posting more food-related content on social media, saying she enjoyed those videos while contrasting them with the congresswoman’s political ideology.
“Okay, she should bring that back,” Ingraham said of Ocasio-Cortez’s cooking content. “Okay? I like cooking videos. There’s nothing wrong with that. The question is, what is she cooking up with socialism?”
The remarks came as renewed attention has focused on Ocasio-Cortez’s potential political future, even though the congresswoman has maintained that she is not currently considering a White House campaign.
A University of New Hampshire poll released Wednesday found Ocasio-Cortez leading a field of potential Democratic presidential candidates for 2028. According to the survey, she received 22% support from respondents.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg followed closely behind with 21%, making him the second-highest finisher in the poll.
The remaining prospective candidates polled in single digits. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) each received less than 10% support.
While Ocasio-Cortez has publicly denied giving serious thought to a 2028 presidential campaign, the new polling suggests she remains one of the Democratic Party’s most recognizable national figures, even as commentators like Ingraham continue to debate whether her public appeal translates into broader political leadership.
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