We have years until the next election. But politicians are gearing up.
And now a 2028 presidential hopeful sank her campaign before it even got started.
AOC’s Misguided Mockery of Rubio’s Historical Facts
In a classic case of political overreach, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York tried to dunk on Secretary of State Marco Rubio by questioning his accurate remarks on the Spanish roots of American cowboy culture, only for her jab to highlight her own apparent oversight of basic history.
Rubio, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, celebrated Europe’s enduring influence on the U.S., pointing out that elements like horses, ranches, and rodeos trace back to Spanish origins—a fact backed by historical records of conquistadors bringing horses to the Americas.
Critics argue AOC’s attempt to stir controversy ignores these truths, coming across as more performative than informed.
Rubio’s Proud Nod to European Heritage Draws Ire
Rubio’s address framed the U.S. as “always be a child of Europe,” highlighting contributions from various European groups that shaped American identity. He noted the English foundations of colonies and legal systems, the Scots-Irish pioneers like Davy Crockett and Teddy Roosevelt, German impacts on the Midwest and even beer quality, and French explorers marking the Mississippi Valley.
Central to the speech was his emphasis on Spain’s role: “Our horses, our ranches, our rodeos – the entire romance of the cowboy archetype that became synonymous with the American West – these were born in Spain.”
“Our first colonies were built by English settlers, to whom we owe not just the language we speak but the whole of our political and legal system. Our frontiers were shaped by Scots-Irish – that proud, hearty clan from the hills of Ulster that gave us Davy Crockett and Mark Twain and Teddy Roosevelt and Neil Armstrong,” and “Our great midwestern heartland was built by German farmers and craftsmen who transformed empty plains into a global agricultural powerhouse – and by the way, dramatically upgraded the quality of American beer,” and “Our expansion into the interior followed the footsteps of French fur traders and explorers whose names, by the way, still adorn the street signs and towns’ names all across the Mississippi Valley.”
AOC’s Fact-Check Fail on Spanish Horses in Mexico
At a TEDx event in Berlin hosted by the Technical University, AOC dismissed Rubio’s comments as “a pure appeal to western culture,” zeroing in on the cowboy origins with a quip that backfired spectacularly.
“My favorite part was when [he said] that American cowboys came from Spain. And I believe the Mexicans and descendants of African enslaved peoples would like to have a word on that,” she said.
However, history confirms Rubio’s point: Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés introduced the first 16 horses to Mexico in 1519 during his Aztec campaign, later establishing breeding farms that spread horses and cattle ranching practices.
Indigenous groups adopted these through various means, influencing the cowboy traditions in regions like Texas and New Mexico. AOC’s insinuation that this erases Mexican or African contributions overlooks the documented Spanish introduction, making her critique seem like another instance of selective historical framing for political points.
