Corbyn and Ocasio-Cortez are forming a transatlantic tag-team
Jeremy Corbyn and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held “lovely and wide-reaching” discussions via telephone over the weekend to discuss taking on “billionaires, polluters and migrant baiters”, the pair have announced on Twitter.
The Labour leader and the 29-year-old Democrat – who last year became the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress – each surged to power after proposing radical socialist reforms, with Ocasio-Cortez in favour of a 70 per cent tax rate on multi-millionaires earning over $10 million.
It is believed that the two spoke for around 45-minutes, discussing a number of subjects, including the US government shutdown and Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall at the Mexican border, alongside climate change, tax and migration.
The Labour leader tweeted on Sunday evening: “Great to speak to @AOC on the phone this evening and hear first hand how she’s challenging the status quo. Let’s build a movement across borders to take on the billionaires, polluters and migrant baiters, and support a happier, freer and cleaner planet.”
With Ocasio-Cortez adding two hours later: “It was an honor to share such a lovely and wide-reaching conversation with you, @jeremycorbyn! Also honored to share a great hope in the peace, prosperity and justice that everyday people can create when we uplift one another across class, race, and identity both at home and abroad.”
It was an honor to share such a lovely and wide-reaching conversation with you, @jeremycorbyn!
Also honored to share a great hope in the peace, prosperity, + justice that everyday people can create when we uplift one another across class, race, + identity both at home & abroad. https://t.co/7qnz42I8du
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 3, 2019
However, Ocasio-Cortez was criticised on Twitter following the relevation of the talks, over claims of on-going anti-Semitism within the Labour party.
Jewish writer Elad Nehorai told her: “I’m a huge huge fan of yours. I hope you’ll take a look at the amount of Jews trying to call attention to Corbyn’s long, documented history of anti-Semitism. The left’s blind spot in this regard can still be fixed. But we need leaders like yourself to listen.”
To which Ocasio-Cortez replied: “Thank you for bringing this to me. We cannot and will not move forward without deep fellowship and leadership with the Jewish community. I’ll have my team reach out.”
