Fact Check: Did AOC spend $50K on Bad Bunny concert during Puerto Rico trip?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A viral claim circulating on social media alleged that US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez improperly spent $50,000 in campaign funds to attend a Bad Bunny concert during a trip to Puerto Rico.

The accusation, amplified through videos and posts in December 2025, sparked renewed scrutiny of the New York Democrat’s campaign spending. Several posts framed the expense as a personal luxury trip, accusing Ocasio-Cortez of using donor money for entertainment, upscale hotels, and catering.

One widely shared post claimed the congresswoman was “caught” spending $50,000 of campaign funds on a Bad Bunny concert, along with high-end accommodations and food. The allegation gained traction after a Fox News article published on December 11 titled, “AOC's campaign pours massive cash into luxury Puerto Rico hotels, pricey catering and Bad Bunny venue rental.”

Claim: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used $50,000 in campaign funds to attend a Bad Bunny concert

The claim spread rapidly across Facebook, Instagram and X in mid-December 2025. Several posts featured footage of Ocasio-Cortez dancing at a Bad Bunny concert, accompanied by captions suggesting campaign money had been used to fund her attendance.

Some users went further, alleging that her campaign had rented the concert venue or paid for the performance itself. Others characterized the trip as a vacation disguised as official travel, implying misuse of political donations.

Fact Check: Federal filings contradicted viral social media posts

Publicly available Federal Election Commission filings showed that Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign did spend close to $50,000 in Puerto Rico, but not in the way viral posts suggested.

The expenditures occurred over several months, from June through September 2025, and covered hotels, meals, catering, security, and travel-related costs tied to campaign and outreach work. The spending was not for a single event and was not incurred by Ocasio-Cortez alone.

There was no evidence that campaign funds were used specifically to attend a Bad Bunny concert. There was also no indication that the campaign rented the venue. The Coliseo de Puerto Rico, where Bad Bunny performed, is a multipurpose arena that hosts a wide range of events and was not booked by the congresswoman’s campaign.

Describing the spending as a “bust” or “catch” was misleading, as the expenses were properly disclosed in FEC filings and had been publicly available well before the viral claims emerged.

Context behind the viral concert footage

The videos cited in the posts came from Ocasio-Cortez’s own Instagram account, shared in August 2025. The carousel included a brief clip of her dancing at a Bad Bunny concert alongside images from meetings with Casa Pueblo, an environmental organization, and representatives from Actívate PR.

The post suggested the trip included official engagements and community outreach, not solely entertainment. The footage alone did not indicate how the concert tickets were purchased or whether campaign funds were involved.

Why Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez frequently travels to Puerto Rico

Ocasio-Cortez has long-standing personal and political ties to Puerto Rico. Her family is originally from the island, and New York’s 14th Congressional District includes a large Puerto Rican population.

Her congressional work has regularly focused on Puerto Rico-related issues, including disaster recovery, environmental advocacy, and economic development. According to Fox News, her campaign manager, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, said Ocasio-Cortez regularly travels to Puerto Rico to support local causes and host events that require staff and security.

Bad Bunny performed in Puerto Rico on August 8, 9, and 10. The Instagram post fueling the claim was dated August 5 and did not specify which show she attended.

As of publication, Ocasio-Cortez’s office had not responded to requests for comment about whether campaign funds were used in connection with attending the concert. Under federal law, campaign funds cannot be used for personal expenses, and no evidence has emerged to suggest such a violation occurred.