Sarah Sanders trades barbs with Ocasio-Cortez over returning to work

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez clashed with former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders who accused the New York congresswoman of telling Americans to “boycott work.”

“As usual she’s wrong. The goal should be for Americans to SAFELY return to work because unlike AOC and members of Congress, most of us actually have to show up at work to get paid and support our families!” Sanders tweeted. 

.@AOC says Americans should boycott work. As usual she’s wrong. The goal should be for Americans to SAFELY return to work because unlike AOC and members of Congress, most of us actually have to show up at work to get paid and support our families! #ProtectLivesProtectLivelihoods

— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) April 23, 2020

The tweet was referring to a Wednesday interview with VICE in which Ocasio-Cortez said essential workers should protest pre-existing economic insecurity and inequities even after restrictions are lifted.

Ocasio-Cortez responded to Sanders’s tweet by pointing out that while she was press secretary, the White House went months without holding press conferences, which were nearly daily occurrences in past administrations. The White House only began holding regular press briefings as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold of the country. 

“Look who’s talking about showing up for work! The woman didn’t hold a press conference for months while holding a job as press sec,” she tweeted. 

Look who’s talking about showing up for work! The woman didn’t hold a press conference for months while holding a job as press sec.

If you’re so supportive of this admin’s plan, why don’t you go out and try delivering groceries for a living w/o health insurance or mass testing?

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 23, 2020

In the VICE interview, the congresswoman noted that the coronavirus pandemic has shined a light on pre-existing labor inequalities among workers who have now been deemed essential while often lacking sufficient pay or health care. 

“If you’re so supportive of this admin’s plan, why don’t you go out and try delivering groceries for a living w/o health insurance or mass testing?” Ocasio-Cortez added.