U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) pushed back forcefully on Sunday against claims from billionaire Elon Musk and right-wing commentator Mario Nawfal, who suggested recent progressive rallies were artificially inflated by paid protesters.
The dispute emerged after Nawfal posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that GPS data revealed that the number of attendees at a high-profile rally—where Ocasio-Cortez appeared alongside Senator Bernie Sanders—was far lower than reported and that the attendees were part of a recurring protester network.
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“Despite claims of 34,000 attendees, GPS data analysis reveals the real number was closer to 20,000—still big, but not record-breaking,” Nawfal wrote. “More revealing? A whopping 84% of those devices had shown up at nine or more other protests, including Antifa/BLM events, pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and Kamala Harris campaign stops.”
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 23, 2025
GPS DATA EXPOSES ASTROTURFING AT DENVER BERNIE-AOC RALLY
That massive Bernie Sanders and AOC rally in Denver? Turns out it wasn’t as “grassroots” as advertised.
Despite claims of 34,000 attendees, GPS data analysis reveals the real number was closer to 20,000—still big,… https://t.co/Mw3WLhxfWk pic.twitter.com/V4dXwqumNT
Musk, who often engages in political discussions online, replied to Nawfal’s post with a blunt accusation: “The Dems just move around the same group of paid ‘protesters.’” That comment drew a direct response from Ocasio-Cortez, who dismissed the theory with characteristic wit. “Someone’s butthurt,” the congresswoman replied.
She added, “At the very least you can find a new, more interesting conspiracy theory to peddle.” The exchange quickly went viral on social media, with supporters and critics on both sides weighing in. Ocasio-Cortez, a frequent target of right-wing media and a vocal progressive leader, has continued to draw large crowds to rallies across the country, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
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The suggestion that the Democratic Party employs a traveling group of paid demonstrators is a common narrative among some conservative circles, though no evidence has substantiated these claims in any official capacity.
Neither Sanders nor rally organizers have issued a formal response to the accusations, though many progressive allies online have rallied behind Ocasio-Cortez’s dismissal of the theory. The back-and-forth comes amid heightened tensions in American political discourse, as both major parties ramp up messaging and mobilization efforts heading into a pivotal election year.
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Someone’s butthurt
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 23, 2025
At the very least you can find a new, more interesting conspiracy theory to peddle. https://t.co/kGaw5aIclW
