JD Vance calls AOC Munich moment 'most uncomfortable 20 seconds of television' he has ever seen

Vice President JD Vance slams Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over "embarrassing" Munich Security Conference moments, calling her responses "uncomfortable" television. Media JD Vance calls AOC Munich moment 'most uncomfortable 20 seconds of television' he has ever seen Vice president accused the Democratic lawmaker of being fed lines, not knowing her own thoughts By Nora Moriarty Fox News Published February 17, 2026 5:19pm EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video JD Vance says Trump admin has many 'tools' to make sure Iran doesn't get nuclear weapon Vice President JD Vance addresses progress made during the Trump administration's talks with Iran, a possible 2028 presidential run, AOC's fumbles in Munich, and more on 'The Story.' NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over "embarrassing" moments in Munich, labeling one as "the most uncomfortable 20 seconds of television" he has ever seen. "Does anybody really believe that AOC has very thoughtful ideas about the global world order or about what the United States should do with our policy in Asia or our policy Europe? No," Vance said.Joining "The Story" on Tuesday, Vance discussed the United States' military maneuvering on Iran, midterm elections and developments at the Munich Security Conference in a wide-ranging interview. The vice president’s comments come after rumored 2028 Democratic presidential front-runner Ocasio-Cortez faced backlash for her responses to foreign policy questions at the Munich Security Conference. President Donald Trump called AOC’s responses "not a good look" for the country, while Vance accused her of "mouthing slogans" written by somebody else. AOC, OTHER 2028 DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS CALLED OUT FOR 'SLIMING' AMERICA DURING MUNICH CONFERENCE Side-by-side photos of Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, left, and Vice President JD Vance. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)While criticizing Trump’s capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Ocasio-Cortez mistakenly stated that Venezuela is located south of the equator. "It is not a remark on who Maduro was as a leader. He canceled elections. He was an anti-democratic leader. That doesn’t mean that we can kidnap a head of state and engage in acts of war just because the nation is below the equator," Ocasio-Cortez said.AOC'S MUNICH 'STUMBLES' DRAW CRITICISM FROM LIBERAL CRITICS ADMITTING COMMENTS WERE 'NOT GREAT' Vance accused the Democratic lawmaker of being fed lines rather than having her own understanding of key issues. Video "It’s a person who doesn't know what she actually thinks," Vance told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum. "And I've seen this way too much in Washington with politicians where they are given lines and when you ask them to go outside the lines they were given, they completely fall apart."Ocasio-Cortez also appeared to stumble while asked whether the U.S. should commit troops to defend Taiwan if China were to move.AOC MOCKED FOR ‘ABSOLUTE TRAIN WRECK’ WEEKEND ON GLOBAL STAGE: 'MADE A FOOL OUT OF HERSELF' "Um, you know, I think that this is such a, you know, I think that this is a um — this is, of course, a, um, very long-standing, um, policy of the United States," Ocasio-Cortez said."I think what we are hoping for is that we want to make sure that we never get to that point, and we want to make sure that we are moving in all of our economic research and our global positions to avoid any such confrontation and for that question to even arise," she continued. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., takes part in the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Sven Hoppe /dpa via AP)The vice president suggested Ocasio-Cortez should familiarize herself with U.S.-China relations before addressing such issues on behalf of the country on an international stage. "If I had given that answer, I would say, ‘You know what? Maybe I ought to go read a book about China and Taiwan before I go out on the world stage again.’ I hope that Congresswoman Cortez has the same humility," Vance said. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APPVance argued that Ocasio-Cortez’s performance in Munich underscores what he described as "thin" Democratic policy on major issues like foreign policy. Fox News Digital has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office for comment. Nora Moriarty is a Production Assistant at FOX News. 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