Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington in 2019.MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez`s latest IDGAF moment has gone viral, and for good reason.

On Monday, The Independent`s interview with the New York Democrat was uploaded to X, featuring Ocasio-Cortez using plain language to link the uptick in health care costs to the explosion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across the country.

"What should be the red lines when it comes to ICE funding? When it comes to [The Department of Homeland Security]? Should there be policy, or reduction in funding?" The Independent`s Eric Michael Garcia asked Ocasio-Cortez.

"My position has always been clear that ICE funding should be cut," she replied. "We`re seeing what they`re doing with this reckless explosion in funding and - mind you - just so everybody knows..."

The lawmaker then looked directly into the camera. "I want everybody to understand: The cuts to your health care are what`s paying for this."

Ocasio-Cortez was referring to President Donald Trump`s "Big Beautiful Bill," the passage of which led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and a massive reduction in the social safety net - including a more than $1 trillion cut to Medicaid. Billions of dollars are now instead going toward Trump`s mass deportation agenda.

"All that extra money that everybody`s paying right now in their premiums, all that extra money that you`re paying ... nearly a trillion dollars in health care, was taken out and given to ICE," Ocasio-Cortez said.

"So, understand how these dots connect," she continued. "You get screwed over to pay a bunch of thugs in the street that are shooting mothers in the face. That is what this administration`s doing."

AOC: I want everybody to understand that the cuts to your health care are what’s paying for this. You get screwed over to pay a bunch of thugs in the street that are shooting mothers in the face. pic.twitter.com/zjgRAcyNVU

— Acyn (@Acyn) January 13, 2026

Ocasio-Cortez was referencing 37-year-old Minneapolis mother Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week.

After Good`s slaying, the Department of Homeland Security characterized her as one of several "violent rioters" blocking ICE officers during a targeted operation. DHS claimed that Good had "weaponized her vehicle" in an attempt to run over an officer.

Yet videos of the incident indicate that Good was trying to leave the scene when the officer shot at her several times. As footage of the shooting emerged appearing to contradict the Trump administration`s account of what happened, protests erupted across the U.S.

Candles, flowers and signs appear at a makeshift memorial honoring Renee Nicole Good and other victims of police and immigration enforcement violence in Minneapolis on Sunday.KEREM YUCEL via Getty Images

After Ocasio-Cortez connected the financial hardships many Americans are experiencing right now with Good`s killing, some X users praised the simplicity of her message.

"Single best line of messaging I have ever seen from AOC," one X user said. "run that in every state and she wins the general by 10 points."

"Flawless messaging," said another. "This should be the thesis statement of anti-Trump politics, compulsively repeated over and over again."

"See how direct and short and simple her messages are?" another X user said. "The words hit."