The recent overseas antics of certain Democratic darlings left many observers scratching their heads. It appears that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known for her spirited domestic declarations, and Gavin Newsom, the suave governor of California, transformed what was supposed to be a serious foray into international policy into a comedic act fit for a sitcom. The sieve-like understanding of basic geopolitics they displayed at the Munich Security Conference painted a picture not of global power players, but more like fledgling interns grappling with their first big assignment.
It’s somewhat tragic-comic that AOC, as she is popularly known, ventured into foreign policy waters with less preparation than a student going into a middle school debate. Her grasp on issues from Chinese aggression to the basics of Mexican history proved amusing, if not somewhat alarming. Despite claims of extensive preparation, her performance resembled someone trying to recall facts with the desperation of a contestant on a game show rather than an aspiring presidential hopeful.
The entire spectacle quickly spiraled into an unintentional comedy special. A particularly bewildering moment came under the guise of attempting to link American cowboys’ roots to Spain—a historical tidbit needing a bit more clarity than her brain could muster on the spot. AOC seemed intent on proving that even with Latinx roots, history lessons can still deliver unintentional irony; it was, after all, her ancestor Cortes who initially brought horses to Mexico.
Gavin Newsom’s foray wasn’t much better. Attempting to peddle outdated policies like some relic from time’s forgotten annals did little to bolster his, or his party’s, image abroad. He seemed to be the guy at the party always one step behind on current trends. Meanwhile, this disastrous double act left many pondering why they dared to venture outside America’s borders only to leave a tarnished impression of Democratic competence.
Watching Democrats bungle what should have been straightforward foreign policy narratives was akin to parents watching their children first attempt riding a bike without training wheels—spectacular in its predictability. It painted a stark contrast to seasoned Republican counterparts like Marco Rubio, who showed how to deliver foreign policy with substance and style. The Democrats’ Germanic excursion played like a field trip from a high school drama class, showcasing that perhaps some should return to the drawing board before reattempting to play at the grown-ups’ table on the world stage.
