AOC Takes Cheap Shot At Riley Gaines, And Gaines Lets Her Have It: ‘Misogynistic Dunce’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) took a cheap shot at former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines on Monday, siding with trans-identifying men over women in her desperation to land an attack on Gaines.

The spat — which played out on X — began on Sunday with a photo Gaines posted from a New York City political rally. The photo showed Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), both of whom self-identify as democratic socialists, campaigning for a fellow socialist — Zohran Mamdani — in New York City’s mayoral race.

“We’re being destroyed from within,” Gaines posted.

We’re being destroyed from within pic.twitter.com/hsD3mYkc6t

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 27, 2025

“Maybe if you channeled all this anger into swimming faster you wouldn’t have come in fifth,” Ocasio-Cortez jabbed back, referencing the 2022 NCAA championships where Gaines had tied for 5th place with trans-identifying male swimmer Lia Thomas.

It’s *always* “we support women’s rights!” until it’s a woman who wants the right to compete & undress free from less than mediocre men

Keep your mentally ill men out of our sports, locker rooms, prisons, etc.

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 27, 2025

“It’s *always* ‘we support women’s rights!’ until it’s a woman who wants the right to compete & undress free from less than mediocre men,” Gaines replied. “Keep your mentally ill men out of our sports, locker rooms, prisons, etc.”

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“It’s always hilarious when they think they’ve landed a ‘gotcha’ by pointing out I was the 5th-fastest woman *in the nation* yet they conveniently forget the mediocre man who ranked 462nd in the men’s division lol. Misogynistic dunce,” Gaines added.

It’s always hilarious when they think they’ve landed a “gotcha” by pointing out I was the 5th-fastest woman *in the nation* yet they conveniently forget the mediocre man who ranked 462nd in the men’s division lol

Misogynistic dunce https://t.co/d1aiAHHoYQ

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 27, 2025

Gaines, host of OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast, joined Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Monday’s broadcast of “The Ingraham Angle” and challenged Ocasio-Cortez to debate her.

“I’ll debate her anytime. She can defend socialism — I’ll defend capitalism. She can defend removing God — I’ll defend a biblical worldview. She can defend child sacrifice — I’ll defend the sanctity of life,” the 12-time All American offered.

????RILEY GAINES CHALLENGES @AOC ????

“I’ll debate her anytime. She can defend socialism — I’ll defend capitalism. She can defend removing God — I’ll defend a biblical worldview. She can defend child sacrifice — I’ll defend the sanctity of life.” —@Riley_Gaines_ pic.twitter.com/teaTLDh5Vp

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 28, 2025

Ocasio-Cortez tried to jab at Gaines again, responding to her debate challenge by saying, “And I would like to challenge this person to get a real job.”

“I have a real job. I’m a mom. It’s the most important & rewarding job in the world. I think if you had a baby girl like I do, you’d understand my positions a little better,” was Gaines’ reply.

I have a real job. I’m a mom. It’s the most important & rewarding job in the world.

I think if you had a baby girl like I do, you’d understand my positions a little better. https://t.co/to8syxkXjP

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 28, 2025