Fact Check: Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez say motorcycles should be banned?
WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for for the ban of motorcycles, allegedly drawing laughter from Congress and sparking mockery online. The viral claim quickly spread across Facebook and X, where many users believed the remarks were genuine.
The alleged exchange also included claims that Speaker Mike Johnson mocked Ocasio-Cortez over supposed traffic violations in Washington, DC. Here is a closer look at the viral rumor and its origins.
Claim: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez allegedly called motorcycles ‘loud’ and ‘dangerous’
According to the viral claim, Congress erupted in laughter after Ocasio-Cortez delivered what many users described as one of the strangest remarks heard on the House floor in recent times.
“I think motorcycles should be banned,” Ocasio-Cortez allegedly said. “They’re loud, dangerous, and act like they own the road.”
The post further claimed that the chamber reportedly broke into laughter before Speaker Mike Johnson brought the room back to order and reminded Ocasio-Cortez about her alleged history of traffic violations in Washington, DC.
“And that’s before we even get into the stuff from New York,” Johnson allegedly joked.
The claim has been widely shared on Facebook and X, with many users believing the rumor to be true.
Fact Check: Viral post about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez originated as satire
However, the claim is false, as there is no credible evidence supporting the alleged exchange in Congress. There are also no reports of Ocasio-Cortez calling for the ban of motorcycles over concerns that they are loud or dangerous.
The claim regarding Ocasio-Cortez’s alleged traffic violations in Washington is also baseless. A Google search for the rumor yielded no credible results, which would likely have been widely covered by major news outlets if true.
Moreover, the claim first appeared on a parody Facebook page that clearly states in its bio, “Nothing on this page is real.” The page regularly posts fictional political content intended as satire and engagement bait.
As a result, the viral claim about Ocasio-Cortez seeking a motorcycle ban is fabricated.
Ted Cruz mocks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s bartending past during podcast appearance
The rumor surfaced shortly after Ted Cruz criticized Ocasio-Cortez during a recent podcast appearance, where he mocked her former bartending job while attacking progressive economic policies.
“I recognize for her, given she was a bartender, that is probably true. No disrespect to bartenders, bartenders are an honorable profession. But she went from that to being a government employee and a parasite sucking on the taxpayer,” he said.
Asked about the comments, Ocasio-Cortez forcefully pushed back and reframed Cruz’s insult as evidence of broader Republican elitism toward working people.
“He thinks that because he has a Harvard degree and never scrubbed a table, that that makes him better than someone who’s actually had to work for a living,” AOC said.
