Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) publicly declined an invitation to appear on a Fox News program following a brief exchange with a show producer outside the U.S. Capitol this week.
The interaction occurred Wednesday when a producer for Jesse Watters Primetime approached the congresswoman to ask whether she would consider appearing on the program. The moment was recorded by journalists nearby and later circulated widely on social media.
During the exchange, Ocasio-Cortez stated that she would not participate in the show, citing past on-air remarks by the program’s host that she described as inappropriate and offensive. She accused Watters of using sexually suggestive language about her during previous broadcasts and said such comments made an appearance unacceptable.
The producer pushed back on her claims, but the congresswoman maintained her position, referencing a prior segment in which Watters speculated about her personal intentions involving a senior White House official. She questioned what she viewed as acceptable commentary directed toward women in public discourse before ending the conversation and walking away.
The disagreement follows earlier public exchanges between Ocasio-Cortez and former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, whom she criticized in October. Around that time, Watters defended Miller on his program and dismissed the congresswoman’s remarks.
After footage of the Capitol encounter gained traction online, Ocasio-Cortez addressed the incident on social media, reiterating her criticism of the Fox News host and making clear she had no interest in appearing on the show.
Fox News has not issued a statement regarding the exchange.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between progressive lawmakers and conservative media figures, reflecting the increasingly adversarial relationship between elected officials and partisan television commentary.
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