Radical ‘Maoist’ Faction of the DSA Says AOC is Too ‘Moderate’ to Run for President in 2028

There is apparently a ‘Maoist’ faction of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), called the ‘Liberation Caucus’ and according to them, far left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is too ‘moderate’ to run for president in 2028.

This is going to be news to the millions of Americans who see AOC as a leading figure of the radical left. She is still a member of the DSA chapter in New York City.

If AOC is a moderate, what does that say about the rest of them?

FOX News reports:

AOC blasted as too moderate by Maoist DSA faction as 2028 buzz grows

The Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) Liberation Caucus is rejecting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as a potential candidate for Democrats in the 2028 presidential election, arguing she is too far removed from the socialist agenda.

“Liberation condemns Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s continued retreat from socialist politics and rejects any effort to present her as the future presidential standard-bearer for DSA, or for the broader socialist movement,” the DSA Liberation Caucus wrote in the statement.

DSA slammed Ocasio-Cortez as an “opportunist” and condemned her vote to defend Israel’s right to exist and for not holding firm as an anti-Zionist.

“In short, it was determined that she had failed to meet conditions concerning Palestine solidarity,” the statement said.

After withdrawing a conditional endorsement of the “Squad” Democrat in 2024, DSA’s National Political Committee “determined” that Ocasio-Cortez hosted a public panel with an alleged Zionist organization — the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

She was also trashed for joining a group of House Democrats to co-sign a statement — after voting against providing Israel with supplemental weapon funding — that voiced support for Israel’s right to have defensive systems.

This could be part of a broader strategy to rebrand AOC in order to make her more appealing to normal people.

As you may recall, just a few weeks ago, liberal FOX News contributor Jessica Tarlov started saying that AOC is a moderate.

Jessica Tarlov claims AOC now is a “Moderate Dem” as compared to the “core DSA wing.”

Scott Galloway agrees that this is a “fair point.”

AOC is a member of NYC DSA.

The gaslighting levels coming in an attempt to rebrand AOC for 2028 are going to be stratospheric. pic.twitter.com/AYypbHSeZu

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) August 10, 2026

The simple truth is that AOC is not a moderate.

Mike LaChance has been covering higher education and politics for Legal Insurrection since 2012. Since 2008 he has contributed work to the Gateway Pundit, Daily Caller, Breitbart, the Center for Security Policy, the Washington Free Beacon, and Ricochet. He has also written for American Lookout, Townhall, and Twitchy.

You can email Mike LaChance here, and read more of Mike LaChance’s articles here.