As the 2028 presidential election draws closer, the political scene is becoming a real-life reality show, with Vice President JD Vance and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) stealing the spotlight in an all-too-public spat. Imagine the fireworks when the ever-pragmatic Vance decided to poke fun at his rival during a discussion on U.S. foreign policy regarding Taiwan. Vance mock-commented about how nice it would be if the media praised him as they do AOC, illustrating just what he thinks of their adulation for her.

Congresswoman AOC, adept in the art of social media quips, quickly fired back on X (formerly Twitter), playing on the silence that followed Vance’s joke. It seems the congresswoman is as lightning-fast with her keyboard as she is with a response. However, one has to wonder if her humor is an attempt to sidestep the more serious issue at hand—her apparent lack of foreign policy acumen.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. AOC’s embarrassed silence at a crucial moment of discussing Taiwan indicates a lack of preparedness, which is hardly what one expects from someone who is considering a potential run for the White House. It becomes particularly troublesome when the topic—U.S. policy on Taiwan—has been swirling in the news thanks to a series of presidential blunders. Apparently, Biden himself has mixed up America’s strategically ambiguous stance on the Taiwan issue in the past. News of that flub was abundant, making one wonder whether the congresswoman even reads the headlines these days.

In politics, especially on such key foreign issues, readiness isn’t just about having the right answers; it’s about knowing the questions in the first place. When debates focus on foreign policy—and heaven knows they will—a candidate must know their material to avoid looking like a kid who forgot to study for a pop quiz. Vice President Vance, known for his formidable debate skills, would likely leave AOC scrambling for words if she doesn’t hit the books soon.

Ultimately, while AOC might enjoy the adoration of her followers online, she’d be wise to remember that governing, leading, and potentially commanding armed forces take more than retweets and likes. It requires preparation, understanding, and a serious approach to policies that impact global stability. And so, as polls point to the possibility of an AOC vs. Vance matchup, only time will tell if the congresswoman can transform those snappy social media retorts into substantive policy discussions worthy of a potential president.