Chris Cuomo calls out AOC for ‘teenage trash-talking battle’ with Riley Gaines

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Looks like Chris Cuomo has had it with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s social media tantrums. The NewsNation anchor and former CNN star blasted AOC for what he called a “teenage trash-talking battle” with conservative activist Riley Gaines.

Chris Cuomo says AOC’s got charisma but lacks control

Cuomo, whose brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, is running against Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, weighed in on the latest AOC controversy.

“She’s got a big following, she’s got big charisma, she’s got a growing amount of power,” Cuomo admitted on his NewsNation show, even calling her a “real contender in 2028.” But he added that how political leaders behave in public “matters.”

“To be in a teenage trash-talking battle with Riley Gaines, saying she doesn’t have a real job, saying if you didn’t come in fifth, maybe you wouldn’t be so upset, you want to lead the country!?” he exclaimed.

Cuomo was frank about how he thinks AOC’s comments might play with the broader public. “I don’t think these kinds of antics are getting you where you want to be with the majority in this country,” he warned.

The comments came after a heated social media exchange between AOC and Gaines.

AOC clashes with Riley Gaines in heated exchange

It all started when Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer who famously tied for fifth place with transgender athlete Lia Thomas in an NCAA championship back in 2022, posted a photo on X. The picture showed New York mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani at a campaign rally with Sen Bernie Sanders and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“We’re being destroyed from within,” Gaines captioned the image. AOC was quick to respond. “Maybe if you channeled all this anger into swimming faster you wouldn’t have come in fifth,” she fired back.

Gaines responded, “It’s always hilarious when they think they’ve landed a ‘gotcha’ by pointing out I was the 5th-fastest woman in the nation yet they conveniently forget the mediocre man who ranked 462nd in the men’s division lol.” The “mediocre man,” of course, being Lia Thomas before transitioning.

Gaines later called Ocasio-Cortez a “misogynistic dunce.” The former collegiate swimmer, who recently welcomed a baby girl just a month ago, then challenged AOC to a debate. 

AOC was not impressed. “And I would like to challenge this person to get a real job,” she shot back on X.

Gaines retorted, “I have a real job. I'm a mom. It's the most important & rewarding job in the world. I think if you had a baby girl like I do, you'd understand my positions a little better.” 

Internet roasts Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her remarks

Social media critics wasted no time taking AOC to task.

Christian podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey, who was recently profiled by the Wall Street Journal, dug up an old post where AOC had declared “s*x work is work.” Stuckey pointed out the irony of praising s*x work as valid while mocking a new mom’s current “job.” Others quickly piled on.

“She was a top-level NCAA swimmer and the best AOC can come up with is ‘yeah but you weren’t the best in the world,’” one user wrote.

“Which tells you that AOC is AOK with men competing as women. An issue most Americans are dead set against,” another posted.

“The fact that AOC is considered as a presidential contender for the dems proves how dead that party is. Such a joke!!!!” someone else quipped.

It's worth noting that Gaines has been one of the loudest voices opposing transgender women competing in female sports.

Speaking to the Deseret News earlier this year, Gaines said, “I know everyone is different, but speaking for myself, I feel this level of serenity, if you will, just totally at peace with how I conduct myself, how I approach the conversation, with my messaging, with what side of history that I’m going to be on. Because I know it’s the right thing. And I think when you know something is right, it makes it easy.” 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.