AOC reveals which Democrat she believes is driving Donald Trump and J.D. Vance 'nuts'

By Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com In Washington, DC

Published: | Updated:

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she believes that Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz is driving Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance 'nuts.'

'I think that Trump and Vance, they think they have some kind of like, monopoly over masculinity,' the progressive lawmaker said in an interview, 'And Walz has kind of shown up.'

'He’s a football coach. He was the head of the gay-straight alliance as the football coach,' she told comedian Stephen Colbert on 'The Late Show.'

'He’s like, "Actually, this stuff is weird, and why are you acting like that?" And I think it’s driving ’em nuts because he’s showing another way to be an upright man in America.'

Walz was named Kamala Harris' running mate just under three weeks ago, but before he was launched into the political spotlight, he was already credited with branding Trump and Vance 'weird.'

Tim Walz accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she believes the Minnesota governor is driving Trump and Vance 'nuts'

Tim Walz accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she believes the Minnesota governor is driving Trump and Vance 'nuts'

AOC's remarks came one day after the Minnesota governor gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago where he tapped into his coaching days, turning the address into a pep talk peppered with football metaphors. 

Before he took the stage, players on the former high school football team he coached came out in jerseys to help introduce him to America as the crowd held signs that read 'Coach Walz.'

Trump responded to Walz speech this week in an interview on Fox & Friends Thursday morning.

'They call him coach. He is a semi-coach if he coached some football for a little while. This guy is a lightweight,' said Trump.

AOC said she thinks Walz is driving the Republican presidential nominee nuts because 'he¿s showing another way to be an upright man in America'

AOC said she thinks Walz is driving the Republican presidential nominee nuts because 'he’s showing another way to be an upright man in America'

Gov. Walz is credited for Democrats going after Republicans as 'weird.' During his acceptance speech on Wednesday, he called their agenda 'weird' but also 'dangerous' while also using a number of football metaphors from his high school coaching days

Gov. Walz is credited for Democrats going after Republicans as 'weird.' During his acceptance speech on Wednesday, he called their agenda 'weird' but also 'dangerous' while also using a number of football metaphors from his high school coaching days

Former high school football players who Walz coached came out at the DNC to help nominate him for vice president

Former high school football players who Walz coached came out at the DNC to help nominate him for vice president

Walz reacting to the balloon drop at the end of the Democratic National Convention. Republicans have ridiculed his exuberance on the campaign trail

Walz reacting to the balloon drop at the end of the Democratic National Convention. Republicans have ridiculed his exuberance on the campaign trail

The Republican presidential nominee has not taken well to being called 'weird' the past few weeks and has slammed the Minnesota Democrat as 'freakish' on the stump. 

'This whack job. You know, he said we’re "weird." That J.D. and I are "weird." I think we’re extremely normal people,' Trump said earlier this week. 

'He’s weird. Did you ever see him go on the stage and go like crazy? Between his movement and her laugh, there’s a lot of craziness. I’d say a step further than weird. Weird is a nice word by comparison,' he said.

Trump responded to Walz' speech by calling him a 'lightweight.' In a recent appearance, the ex-president also called him a 'whack job' and went after his movements and laugh

Trump responded to Walz' speech by calling him a 'lightweight.' In a recent appearance, the ex-president also called him a 'whack job' and went after his movements and laugh

Democrats have embraced Walz' exuberance on the campaign trail, but for Republicans, his energy has been the topic of ridicule. 

In his speech on Wednesday night, Walz accused Trump and Vance of not understanding 'what it takes to be a good neighbor.'

He also issued a dire warning about their agenda.

'Is it weird? Absolutely,' Walz said, 'But it’s also wrong, and it’s dangerous.'

Politics