Fact Check: Did AOC say man oppresses man in capitalism, while socialism does the opposite?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Amid her preparations to run in the 2028 presidential election, a claim is circulating on social media platforms alleging that New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that man oppresses man under capitalism, while it's the other way around under socialism, triggering mockery and speculation. The claim has prompted a fact-check.
Claim: AlOC said that man oppresses man under capitalism and socialism does the opposite
According to a viral post that surfaced on X, Ocasio-Cortez said, “Under capitalism, man oppresses man. Under socialism, it's the other way around.”
The claim has been shared widely, sparking mockery, as it implies that socialism reverses who is oppressing whom. Manu interpreted the alleged quote as Ocasio-Cortez criticising capitalism, while accidentally admitting that socialism is just the same problem in reverse.
The post has garnered more than two hundred thousand views as of this writing, and continues to spread across social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Fact Check: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made no such remark
However, the claim is untrue, as the quote is falsely attributed to the 36-year-old congresswoman. There are no publicly available transcripts, statements, or social media posts from AOC in which she made those remarks.
A search on Google for the claim yielded no relevant results from credible news media outlets where the Social Democrat is heard saying the remark.
However, a search for the quote revealed that the likely origins of the expression are a cynical Soviet-era Russian joke and have also been erroneously linked to economist Russ Roberts.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces 2028 speculation amid personal headlines
The claim surfaced while Ocasio-Cortez, among many Democrats, is being talked about as a possible candidate for the 2028 race. Ocasio-Cortez making bids for the presidency would follow a wave of progressive successes in this year’s primaries.
Although AOC has not formally or publicly confirmed a presidential campaign, she has refused to rule out the possibility.
She recently made headlines by documenting her decision to freeze her eggs on Instagram, giving followers a close look at the process, and talking about why she decided to do it now.
“This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life,” she said.
Recently, she spoke about the negativity she faced after sharing her decision to freeze her eggs. “I was born a woman, period,” she said on Instagram. “And I have no control over that, and I wouldn’t want to change that.” She added, “So I might as well help others.”
