Nancy Pelosi Snaps At Reporter Over Shutdown Question Linking AOC

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi clashed with a reporter Wednesday after being asked whether Republicans should negotiate with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to end the ongoing government shutdown.

The reporter noted that Ocasio-Cortez had said senators were free to negotiate with her directly. Pelosi quickly cut the question off. “Why are you saying such a ridiculous thing?” she shot back.

The exchange followed Ocasio-Cortez’s MSNBC appearance Tuesday night, where she told Republicans, “My office is open, and you are free to walk in and negotiate with me directly.” Pelosi dismissed the idea that Ocasio-Cortez was driving talks, insisting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is the one leading Democrats in negotiations.

“She’s wonderful, she’s a real team player,” Pelosi said of Ocasio-Cortez. “But she is not directing this, Hakeem Jeffries is. This takes a lot of experience, a lot of unity, and that’s what this is.” Pelosi added that AOC is an “articulate spokesperson for her point of view” but reiterated that leadership rests with Jeffries.

Pelosi has previously checked Ocasio-Cortez’s influence within the Democratic caucus. In 2019, during a dispute over border funding, Pelosi downplayed the clout of AOC and other progressives, saying, “They’re four people, and that’s how many votes they got.” And in late 2023, Pelosi reportedly worked behind the scenes to block Ocasio-Cortez’s bid to lead Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, where she ultimately lost a caucus vote.

The flare-up underscores lingering tension within the Democratic Party between its older guard and its younger progressive wing, especially as the shutdown fight drags on.