Politics

Mocked in Munich? Why AOC was a much bigger success than her critics realize

Despite factual errors on Taiwan and Israel, the progressive congresswoman accomplished her real goals at the security conference

By Doug Schoen Fox News

Published February 19, 2026 5:00am EST

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AOC hit by left and right over foreign policy flubs at Munich Security Conference

Fox News contributor James Freeman discusses Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s, D-N.Y., policy flubs at the Munich Security Conference and how it could impact her political future on ‘America Reports.’

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Following her appearance at the Munich Security Conference, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. drew significant criticism for multiple factual misstatements.

From her halting answer on U.S. support for Taiwan to mistakenly referring to U.S. relations with Europe as the "Trans-Pacific Partnership," and falsely accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, there were plenty of missteps to seize on.

That said, focusing solely on her errors misses the point of her presence — at least as she conceived it — and why it was extremely successful. Calling it anything else would be a mistake.

Indeed, AOC went to Munich with two goals, both of which she accomplished.

AOC'S MUNICH 'STUMBLES' DRAW CRITICISM FROM LIBERAL CRITICS ADMITTING COMMENTS WERE 'NOT GREAT'

The first was to attract extraordinary attention, which she did.

It is legitimate to say she drew as much — or more — attention than any other U.S. official, so much so that The New York Times felt compelled to publicly wonder whether the appearance was a stepping stone to a presidential run for the progressive lawmaker.

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AOC’s second goal was to draw sharp contrasts between herself and other potential 2028 Democratic contenders, particularly by emphasizing working-class politics at home and for democracies globally – her least understood........

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