Donald Trump offered an unusually favorable remark about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez while criticizing several Democrats during a campaign rally in Kansas. Speaking at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Trump said he liked AOC “better” than some of her colleagues and added that “she’s doing her thing.”
Trump made the comment while campaigning for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who is running against Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton.
Donald Trump praises AOC during Kansas rally
Trump’s brief AOC praise came during a broader attack on progressive Democrats. He first criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar before turning his attention to Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
“AOC. AOC. I like AOC better. You know, she’s doing her thing,” Trump then said.
According to The Mirror US, Trump did not explain what he meant by the remark. He instead moved on to criticize other Democratic politicians, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Maxine Waters.
The comment stood out because Trump has repeatedly targeted Ocasio-Cortez over the years. In June 2025, he called the congresswoman “stupid,” prompting her to respond by calling herself “just a silly girl.” He also criticized her comments at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Still, Trump has occasionally offered more favorable remarks about her. In 2024, he said Ocasio-Cortez “has a spark that’s pretty amazing.” During another interview, he also said it would be nice to meet her, although he continued to criticize her political views.
The Kansas rally came shortly after Ocasio-Cortez campaigned in Michigan for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. She joined El-Sayed for campaign events in the Upper Peninsula and Detroit, including a rally in Pontiac.
Ocasio-Cortez also transferred $1 million from her campaign funds to support El-Sayed’s Senate bid. The contribution was announced during a Michigan campaign event on October 16.
Trump also attacked El-Sayed by name during his Kansas speech, criticizing the Democratic Senate candidate as part of his broader attacks on Democrats.
Ocasio-Cortez has also drawn speculation about her political future, although she has not announced plans to run for president in 2028. She has said she will decide whether to seek higher office after the midterm elections, while reporting has also linked her to possible future Senate ambitions.
For now, Trump’s remark remains unexplained. His decision to say he liked AOC “better,” however, marked a notable contrast with his past criticism of the New York congresswoman.
