Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed palpable frustration on Monday following a campaign event by Donald Trump in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where the former president made an appearance at a local McDonald’s. Ocasio-Cortez accused Trump of mocking working-class Americans through his actions, claiming he was not showing genuine empathy.
“Donald Trump putting on a little McDonald’s costume because he thinks that’s what people do. They’re not trying to empathize with us. They are making fun of us,” Ocasio-Cortez said. The Squad leader’s comments come amid a heated campaign atmosphere in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, which played a decisive role in the 2020 election and will likely do the same this year.
Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, also targeted tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has been offering $1 million to Pennsylvania residents as part of a voter registration drive aimed at shifting the state back to Republican control. “Elon Musk thinks that dangling money in front of a working person is a cute thing to do when the election of our lives is before us,” she stated.
JUST IN: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fumes after Donald Trump picked up a shift at McDonald’s, says he is “making fun of us.”
AOC also took aim at Elon Musk for paying normal Americans $1M each in Pennsylvania. “Donald Trump putting on a little McDonald’s costume because he thinks… pic.twitter.com/7nXbcshTwE — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 21, 2024
Republican leaders, including Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance, pushed back against these criticisms, emphasizing that Trump’s outreach in Pennsylvania shows his undeniable connection with the state’s residents. “From the french fry station at McDonald’s to the Steelers game on Sunday night, no one connects with Pennsylvanians like Trump,” Vance remarked.
President Trump showed how to connect with voters in Pennsylvania yesterday better than anyone else could – from the french fry station at McDonald’s to the Steelers game on Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/lKlLKlEvk8
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 21, 2024
The back-and-forth comes as polling data suggests that Trump may need to strengthen his appeal among blue-collar white voters in Pennsylvania, a demographic crucial to his electoral strategy, according to CNN. Despite this, Trump has seen a boost in recent forecasts. J.L. Partners’ latest data indicates Trump has a 65.9% chance of winning the Electoral College, with his odds of taking Pennsylvania standing at 67.7% as of Monday night.
🚨 JUST IN: Trump has SURGED to a new high in latest election forecast.
🔴 Trump: 65.9% 🔵 Harris: 34% Trump’s PENNSYLVANIA odds are 67.7%!@J_L_Partners pic.twitter.com/2cwrsT5cTD — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 21, 2024
Fast-moving developments from the Keystone State highlight the growing intensity of the campaign in Pennsylvania, as both sides vie for a critical edge in the swing state with the greatest number of electoral votes.
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