Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently addressed questions regarding her ownership of a Tesla, despite her earlier intention to replace it with a union-made electric car. Her decision to keep the Tesla had sparked controversy in 2021 due to its non-unionized production.
During her appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation, host Margaret Brennan inquired about the delay in her promised switch to a union-made electric vehicle, asking if it was due to quality issues, style preferences, or market availability.
Ocasio-Cortez responded by explaining that her Tesla purchase occurred during the pandemic when travel was considered risky, and a vaccine was not yet available. She indicated that an electric vehicle was deemed the safest mode of travel between New York and Washington at that time. She also mentioned that newer models with better range had become available on the market since then, and she was currently exploring the possibility of trading in her car for one of those models.
Social media users reacted to her explanation with confusion and amusement, with some accusing her of producing a “word salad” and others finding it difficult to decipher the meaning behind her words.
Ocasio-Cortez’s ownership of a Tesla had previously come under scrutiny when the car was spotted parked illegally outside a Whole Foods in Washington, D.C. She had criticized Tesla for receiving subsidies and had engaged in a public exchange on Twitter with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, where their interactions garnered attention and humor.-
