AOC backtracks on Stephen Miller height jab, says real stature comes from who you are 'inside'

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez walked back a jab at White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller’s height, saying she meant no offense and proudly supports the “short king” community.

She emphasized that, in her view, real stature comes from character, not physical height. Her comments followed backlash from Miller, who fired back by calling her “a mess” and a “walking nightmare.”

AOC says she never intended to mock Stephen Miller’s height

A video clip shared by Collin Rugg on X (formerly Twitter) captured Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressing recent backlash during an Instagram Live. The congresswoman defended herself, saying she never intended to mock Miller’s appearance and clarified that her comments were aimed at his character, not his height.

“I don’t believe in body-shaming,” she said. “I want to express my love for the short king community. I’m talking about how big or small someone is on the inside.”

While making her point, AOC also referenced controversial internet figure Andrew Tate. "For example, I have no idea how big or tall Andrew Tate is. No idea at all. But that guy looks to me like 5’3”, 5’4”—whereas physically men of small stature can come across like they are spiritually 6. I don't know," she said, before asking, "Am I being problematic?"

Before walking back on her initial jab, AOC reacted to Miller’s Fox News appearance, where he responded to her height-related joke.

She reposted a clip of the segment, writing, “I cannot believe they aired this and made him listen to it live 😂 I am crying.”

AOC and Stephen Miller’s height controversy explained

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a swipe at Stephen Miller during her Instagram Live on October 5, mocking his height while defending Democrats against claims tied to the government shutdown.

“The point is that they are scrapping and grasping at straws because they have nothing else,” AOC said, rejecting accusations that Democrats’ push for health care for undocumented immigrants caused the shutdown.

Then, turning her focus to Miller, she said, “Laugh at them! Stephen Miller is a clown! I’ve never seen that guy in real life, but he looks like he’s, like, 4’10”. And he looks like he is angry about the fact that he’s 4’10”. And he looks like he is so mad that he is 4’10”""

She repeated her call to "laugh at them" and warned viewers about the rise of authoritarianism, urging her audience to stay strong and support each other.

AOC’s comments quickly went viral and prompted a response from Miller the next day, during his appearance on 'The Ingraham Angle' on Monday.

After host Laura Ingraham played the clip of AOC’s remarks, Miller, who is actually 5’10", fired back, “Well, we knew that her brain didn’t work. Now we know their eyes don’t work. I mean, she’s just a mess, right? What a train wreck.”

“I think the important point is that every time she’s on TV, Republican approval ratings go up. Democrat approval ratings go down. That lady is a walking nightmare,” he added.