Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly compared Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to Mussolini when discussing her Democratic National Convention speech on Monday during her podcast "The Megyn Kelly Show."
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, sometimes colloquially referred to as AOC, delivered a divisive speech at the DNC in Chicago, which was met with huge cheers from the audience who got to their feet to applaud, the New York Daily News reported, but was also hit with some criticism online from conservatives, according to the Daily Mail.
On her show, the former Fox News Host suggested Ocasio Cortez feigned an accent during her speech, comparing her to Hilaria Baldwin, "who went to a fancy boarding school in either Boston or Rhode Island and isn't Spanish at all." Kelly said Ocasio Cortez was a cross between Baldwin "and also this guy – you may remember him from World War Two as the leader of Italy."
She then showed footage of Mussolini shouting while dramatically gesturing with his arms on top of a tall podium before a crowd of people.
Mussolini was an Italian dictator who founded and led the National Fascist Party and was also known for his public speaking which enabled him to win supporters and gain popularity – Adolf Hitler is also believed to have modeled his public speaking off Mussolini's, according to Daily History.
The comments came during the August 20 episode of her podcast, which is also posted on YouTube, and featured hosts of the "Ruthless" podcast John Ashbrook, Michael Duncan, Josh Holmes, and Comfortably Smug.
Kelly criticized Ocasio Cortez' speaking style during her speech, first shouting and banging the table, then saying, "Anyone can get up there and shout at you, she can shout at you, it doesn't make you a good public speaker. It was like an assault, don't you feel assaulted by what I just did."
She added, "That's how I felt, listening to her."
Kelly also said she thought Ocasio Cortez was trying to imitate Barack Obama's 2004 speech, saying, "That's what AOC was going for. That's what they all go for. They fail. There's only one Barack Obama, there will never be another Barack Obama. I'm sorry, find your own style."
Kelly took aim at Ocasio Cortez on X too, writing, "All AOC wants is to be a star. Congressional Kardashian," in relation to her DNC appearance.
Ocasio Cortez, who represents parts of the Bronx and Queens in Congress, became the youngest woman to serve in U.S. Congress when she was elected in 2019.
Newsweek has contacted Ocasio Cortez and Kelly for comment.
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