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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is among 20 House Democrats boycotting the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, scheduled for Monday afternoon.
The group’s decision, framed as a protest, has sparked debate as Trump prepares to take office for his second term.
In a series of Instagram videos, Ocasio-Cortez voiced her strong opposition to Trump’s administration, calling it “authoritarian” and making several controversial remarks.
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She likened Trump’s leadership to that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a conservative leader, claiming the incoming administration would attempt to control media and corporations.
During her video messages, Ocasio-Cortez described Trump’s movement as “21st Century fascism.”
She encouraged her followers to explore alternative social media platforms, including BlueSky, an emerging platform favored by left-leaning users.
She praised BlueSky for its approach to censorship and for employing former Twitter staff under Jack Dorsey’s leadership.
“This is a time of experimentation,” Ocasio-Cortez stated in one video. “A lot of people will still use platforms, but I also look towards places where you have more ownership as well and develop your audiences there. Like BlueSky, you own your audiences at protocol.”
AOC on the verge of tears: “This is the eve of an authoritarian, 21st century fascism” pic.twitter.com/grLnsdDPcF
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 19, 2025
In a follow-up video, Ocasio-Cortez addressed questions about her decision not to attend the inauguration.
She made a particularly contentious statement, saying, “Let me make myself clear. I don’t celebrate rapists. So no, I’m not going to the inauguration tomorrow.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks reference ongoing controversies involving President-elect Trump, though her statement does not reflect any criminal or civil convictions for rape.
Trump was found liable for defamation in a civil case brought by E. Jean Carroll under New York’s Adult Survivors Act.
The Act, which temporarily extended the statute of limitations for civil claims of sexual assault, allowed Carroll to bring her case forward decades after the alleged incident.
While Carroll accused Trump of assaulting her in a Manhattan department store, no physical evidence or corroborating witnesses were presented.
The jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages, primarily for defamation, after finding that Trump had defended himself against her accusations.
Trump has consistently denied Carroll’s allegations, characterizing the case as politically motivated.
The broader implications of such claims were highlighted recently when ABC News and host George Stephanopoulos reached a settlement with Trump after erroneously claiming he had been convicted of rape.
As part of the agreement, ABC News will contribute $15 million to a presidential foundation and pay an additional $1 million for Trump’s legal fees.
The network also issued a formal apology.
#BREAKING: ABC agrees to pay President Trump $15 MILLION after defaming him
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George Stephanopolous falsely stated that President Trump “r*ped” E Jean Carroll
The settlement comes with an “apology” from ABC News as well:
“ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret… pic.twitter.com/KYzQiSPg1Z
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 14, 2024
While Ocasio-Cortez’s decision aligns with her outspoken stance on Trump, the overall number of House Democrats boycotting the inauguration has decreased compared to 2017.
During Trump’s first inauguration, dozens of Democrats opted to protest the election result.
This time, three additional Democrats remain undecided on attendance, but the total count of boycotting lawmakers is significantly smaller.
As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, the political divisions over his leadership remain sharp, with prominent figures like Ocasio-Cortez continuing to amplify opposition to his administration.
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