Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s self-identification as a ‘Bronx girl’ has sparked a broader discussion about the authenticity of her public image as an inner-city fighter. The progressive congresswoman, a prominent member of the ‘Squad,’ recently used this label during a political disagreement with President Donald Trump, where she emphasized her connection to the Bronx as part of a larger political message. However, the resurfacing of her childhood nickname from her suburban upbringing has raised questions about the accuracy of her stated background.
Ocasio-Cortez, who is 35, recently asserted her Bronx roots on X while countering Trump’s comments regarding his upbringing in Queens. Her declaration, ‘Iām a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast,’ was made as part of her campaign for Trump’s impeachment over the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. This assertion, however, is now under scrutiny as her early life in Yorktown, a suburban area nearly an hour from New York City, has been highlighted.
Despite her public persona, Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown at age five, where she remained until high school. She attended Yorktown High School, graduating in 2007, and was known by her peers as ‘Sandy,’ a nickname that reflects her suburban background. This revelation has sparked controversy, as it contrasts sharply with her self-portrayed image as an inner-city fighter. Former Yorktown resident and New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater has joined the debate by releasing yearbook photos of Ocasio-Cortez, claiming she attended the school as a freshman while he was a senior.
Slater accused Ocasio-Cortez of fabricating her Bronx roots, asserting that her upbringing was far more suburban. ‘Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie,’ Slater stated on Fox & Friends First, emphasizing that she was part of his high school track team. These claims have drawn significant attention, prompting Ocasio-Cortez to defend her background on X, highlighting her early life and experiences in Yorktown as shaping her political views.