Staff Reports
In an event that one might humorously call the Democrats’ overseas selfie tour, some prominent party members made their presence felt in Germany. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared at the Munich Security Conference, ostensibly to showcase their foreign policy credentials. However, it seemed more like a case of interns playing dress-up on their first day. Their performance, or lack thereof, didn’t win them any new fans back home or abroad, and President Trump, never one to mince words, was quick to blast them for making America look amateurish on the world stage.
AOC in particular seemed to struggle with the spotlight. Her comments about American cowboys having their roots in Spain made her an internet sensation, albeit not the kind she was hoping for. Critics pointed out with sarcastic glee that she could have benefited from a brief crash course in basic world history. It seems like Cortez, who interestingly enough shares her surname with a certain Spanish conqueror, might have confused some key facts on the historical origins of cowboys. The whole ordeal was reminiscent of a sitcom episode, and not a particularly clever one.
But it wasn’t just her historical faux pas that raised eyebrows. When speaking on international issues like China’s aggression or the situation in Venezuela, she appeared to be ill-prepared, fumbling through answers as if she hadn’t bothered opening a briefing book. Her defenders spun her gaffes as a result of being overwhelmed by the “far-right,” but anyone watching the spectacle unfold might wonder whether she should have spent more time understanding the issues at hand rather than rehearsing buzzwords.
Gavin Newsom, while perhaps slightly more polished, wasn’t immune to his own share of mishaps. His approach to talking about UK wind deals seemed outdated and disconnected from current realities. The Democrats’ attempt to tackle foreign policy matters, in comparison to figures like Republican Senator Marco Rubio, showed a lack of depth. Rubio’s MAGA-inspired foreign policy was surprisingly well-received, proving that it is possible to address international concerns effectively without resorting to empty platitudes.
The Democrats, it seems, have become overly reliant on a media safety net that shields them from harsh scrutiny. But when they step outside that comfort zone – away from the friendly confines of certain news networks and into the uncharted waters of international diplomacy – it’s a different ball game. As in the story of “Lord of the Flies,” the apparent children in charge are woefully unprepared when left to fend for themselves. Republicans, for all their faults, at least manage to present themselves competently on the world stage, unintentionally lending them an air of authority.
In the grand scheme of things, the Democrats’ Europe trip was hardly the glowing testament to American leadership they might have hoped for. Their emphasis on identity politics over genuine political acumen stands exposed when the safety wheels come off, revealing a party that could use a few lessons in international relations and, perhaps more importantly, a few history books for good measure.
