Firebrand Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez railed against Fox News pundit Jeanine Pirro on Tuesday at a rally as she accused the latter of making an insensitive comment about children with dead parents

AOC slammed Jeanine Pirro for her insensitive comments (Image: Getty Images)

During a rally on Tuesday, firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) slammed Fox News pundit Jeanine Pirro, who made an ignorant and insensitive comment about babies with dead parents on one of the shows she anchors.

“Just yesterday, I saw on television, on Fox News — you had this woman, Jeanine Pirro,” AOC began her spiel. “Anyways, so Jeanine Pirro goes on television, and she says, as though this is fraud, she says that they found so many babies and 2-year-olds and 4-year-olds who were receiving Social Security.”

Her claims were correct — there is a list of young children and babies whose families are receiving Social Security checks. But AOC pointed out that there’s a specific reason those children and their families are receiving the checks — and it’s not fraud by any means.

“I’ve got a notice for you, Jeanine Pirro — those babies get Social Security because their parents died,” AOC said bluntly. “That’s not a waste — that’s humanity. That’s America. That’s the country that we fight for. Those are the promises we make to one another. That is what it means to be in a civilized society. It’s not waste — it is the best of us.”

The comments from both Pirro and AOC come after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and other members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet have moved to gut the Social Security Agency, reducing its workforce but also highlighting activities they consider fraud — despite some being part of the agency’s initial purpose, such as the checks to children with dead parents.

The rally on Tuesday, which was hosted in Folsom, California, in tandem with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, lured an astounding number of attendees to Folsom Lake College’s stadium — 26,000 attended the event, which was one of several that are part of the pair’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.

A local news drone flew above the stadium and captured droves of people attempting to enter the facility over two and a half hours before the headliners were set to take the stage.

“The world is falling apart, but Bernie gives all of us hope. It’s really exciting to be around people who feel the same way as we do,” Jazmin Davis, a supporter of Sanders in attendance in Folsom, told CBS News.

But just a block away from the event in Folsom, attendees driving in were met with conservative protesters, supporters of President Donald Trump who boasted signs and other paraphernalia that also called for California Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign.

The tour has nevertheless boasted a massive turnout so far, with stops including Los Angeles over the weekend and other major West Coast cities.

But, Yuba City Assemblyman James Gallagher, a Republican, took to X to criticize Sanders and AOC on Tuesday, writing, “As Bernie Sanders and AOC stop off in Folsom today please keep this in mind: We have adopted all of their policies in California. How’s that working out for you? We have the highest cost of living, the most poverty, the most homeless, second highest gas prices, housing costs soaring out of sight.”