U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., lashed out at President Donald Trump on Monday after he ridiculed the freshman lawmaker’s controversial “Green New Deal” during a rally in El Paso, Texas.
Trump derided the Green New Deal – an economic stimulus concept designed to fight income inequality and climate change – as a “massive government takeover over that would destroy the incredible economic gains” the U.S. has made under his administration.
“Sounds like a high school term paper that got a low mark,” he quipped.
Ocasio-Cortez scoffed at the president’s evocation of literary aptitude, retorting: “Ah yes, a man who can’t even read briefings written in full sentences is providing literary criticism of a House Resolution.”
She then quoted a Washington Post article which claimed that “Reading the intelligence book is not Trump’s preferred ‘style of learning,’ according to a person with knowledge of the situation.”
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Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal is widely seen as a litmus test to determine moderate Democrats from the party’s progressive wing. Among the policies more radical proposals is to provide “Economic security for all who are unable or unwilling to work,” and a 10-year goal to reach net zero carbon emissions, according to a list of “frequently asked questions” that had been posted on Ocasio-Cortez’s official website.
The president’s campaign-style rally in El Paso on Monday comes amid the ongoing border wall debate. Hours before taking the stage, lawmakers reached “an agreement in principle” to fund the government and avoid yet another partial government shutdown.
Fox News' Gregg Re contributed to this report.
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