Trump 'starstruck' by Ocasio-Cortez and has nicknamed her Eva Peron but feels 'she doesn't know anything'
President Donald Trump has reportedly admitted that he is "starstruck" by freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, saying that although the New York representative appears to be a "ranting and raving lunatic on a street corner," she has a "certain talent" which reminds him of the legendary Argentinian first lady Eva Peron.
The president made the revelation while speaking to Politico writer Tim Alberta for his upcoming book titled 'American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War'. Trump admitted to Alberta that the first time he saw AOC, he noticed a familiar figure in her.
"I see a young woman," Trump said, recalling seeing the 29-year-old during her primary against Joe Crowley, "ranting and raving like a lunatic on a street corner, and I said: 'That’s interesting, go back.’" The Republican then said that he "became enamored" by AOC's charisma and got "starstruck," the Daily Mail reported.
"I called her Eva Perón. I said, 'That’s Eva Perón. That’s Evita'," the president added. Trump has previously said that his favorite Broadway show is 'Evita', starring Patti Lupone, adding that in 2004 he "saw it six times, mostly with [his first wife] Ivana," according to the Guardian.
Perón, famously known as Evita, was an actor married to Argentinian President Juan Perón. As the first lady, she rose to enormous popularity before turning 30, becoming a feminist icon. She championed working-class voters and female and Unionist's rights during the 1940s and early 1950s. She became an almost saintly figure of compassion and was revered by millions in her own country.
Perón and AOC both have striking similarities when it comes to their political career, both rose to widespread prominence against the established elites before the age of 30; both are known for their gift of public speaking, and both are noted for their championing of society's minority groups and causes.
"She’s got talent. Now, that’s the good news," the president said of Ocasio-Cortez before hitting at her."The bad news: she doesn’t know anything. She’s got a good sense, an 'it' factor, which is pretty good, but she knows nothing. But with time, she has real potential."
Alberta, in his book, noted that during his interviews with Trump in late 2018, the president "placed a comically exotic emphasis on the nickname: Ah-vit-tah." He also told Alberta that his early endorsement of the New York congresswoman is a reminder of his ability to spot potential, adding that he knew instantly that AOC had a "certain talent."
AOC, however, does not share the same appreciation of the president and is known to be a staunch vocal critic of Trump. The congresswoman, last week, called the president a "fascist" in an interview with Yahoo News, blaming him for "completely engineering" the humanitarian crisis that is currently plaguing the US-Mexico border.