Ocasio-Cortez deletes tweet after incorrectly identifying Dem lawmaker as a Republican

Firebrand freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) deleted a tweet on Thursday after incorrectly identifying a Democratic lawmaker as a Republican in a post blasting Republicans.

The New York Democrat quoted a tweet from the Republican Party of Kentucky that featured a picture of House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) standing next to a cardboard cutout of Ocasio-Cortez. In her response, Ocasio-Cortez slammed Republicans for allegedly posing “older male members” next to “young female legislators.”

“GOP: Let’s pose our older male members next to cardboard cutouts of young female legislators,” her tweet said, before being quickly deleted. The tweet appeared to incorporate an online meme.

.@AOC has deleted her tweet calling @RepJohnYarmuth a Republican (he is #Kentucky’s only Democrat in D.C. and House Budget Committee Chairman!).

But nothing dies on the internet. #KY03 #AOC pic.twitter.com/Cmgy1p1L13

— Philmonger (@phillipmbailey) April 25, 2019

Republicans were quick to pounce on the congresswoman for the mistake, with the National Republican Congressional Committee blasting out an email noting she is a co-sponsor on one of Yarmuth’s bills.{mosads}

“Maybe if @AOC spent more time interacting with lawmakers and less time making coloring books, she’d recognize the other socialist Democrats in her caucus,” the House GOP’s campaign arm tweeted in response.

Yarmuth took to social media to say he welcomes Ocasio-Cortez in Kentucky, noting he was previously a member of the GOP before switch parties 35 years ago. 

I was a Republican 35 years ago, but I think I have become wiser as an older, white, male Democrat. I simply wanted everyone to know I welcome @RepAOC in Kentucky, regardless of what old white male Republicans think. https://t.co/WOY7bIy6Yf

— Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) April 25, 2019 

Ocasio-Cortez has not shied away from responding to critics, including both her colleagues and members of the media, on Twitter. A recent analysis found that the progressive lawmaker has the most engaged Twitter of all politicians other than President Trump.

The Hill has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office for comment.

Updated: 6 p.m.