AOC Rebuked After Making Strange Demand of Japan

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is facing criticism after she called out Japan for what she perceived as a lack of tolerance during a recent congressional trip to Asia.

In a nearly 40-minute-long Instagram video, she expressed her dismay at hearing “very discriminatory” comments from a member of the Japanese government about the LGBT community.

During her live-streamed video on Monday, she explained that an off-the-record conversation revealed that a member of the Japanese administration had made derogatory statements about the LGBT community.

It’s important to note that Japan has made progress in LGBTQ+ rights in recent years, including recognizing same-sex partnerships in some areas.

However, discrimination still exists, and it’s understandable that Ocasio-Cortez would want to raise awareness of this issue. It’s important to engage in constructive dialogue and work towards greater acceptance and understanding of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“It is quite shocking, I think it’s fair to characterize this as [a] pretty shocking development,” Ocasio-Cortez added. 

During her recent trip to Asia, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., expressed her belief that Japan enacting marriage equality and LGBT protections would strengthen U.S. and Japan relations. However, her comments were met with criticism from some political commentators and journalists, who saw it as inappropriate for her to advise Japan on its internal affairs.

Some even took to social media to voice their disapproval, with political commentator Ian Miles Cheong tweeting that AOC was demanding that Japan embrace “LGBTQ alphabet wokeness” or face consequences. Journalist Sameera Khan also shared articles on the controversial trip, arguing that Japan’s internal affairs were none of AOC’s business.

While it’s important to engage in productive dialogue and support human rights globally, it’s understandable that some may see this as overstepping boundaries. It’s important for political leaders to focus on their own countries while also working towards greater acceptance and understanding of all individuals worldwide.

“Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats urge Japan to advance LGBT rights,” Time headlined. “Ocasio-Cortez says it’s ‘critical’ Japan moves forward with LGBTQ rights,” Bloomberg wrote. 

“Japan is the only member of the G-7 that does not have marriage equality and LGBT anti-discrimination equality protections in place,” Ocasio-Cortez told her over 8.6 million followers on Instagram. 

The original video she posted to Instagram has already received over 520,000 likes. 

“For me, understanding + studying the science and scale of radiation puts me more at ease. More information makes me feel better. But that might not be the case for everyone,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on her trip to Fukushima. 

One Twitter user focused on energy policy called it a “[m]assive cultural shift” in the favor of nuclear energy. 

“She has 9 million followers, many of whom are young women,” he added. 

“I don’t take a strong anti- or pro- position on it,” Ocasio-Cortez said on nuclear energy in 2019, according to the Morning Consult. 

The congresswoman, an avid environmentalist, reportedly said at the time that her “Green New Deal” plan “leaves the door open on nuclear so that we can have that conversation.”

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.