New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pressed right-wing commentators and derided "misogynistic hypocrite" Republicans for mocking her last year over one $250 haircut compared to President Donald Trump's taxes showing he spent $70,000 on hairstyling costs alone.
Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday evening recalled the endless ridicule she received last October from Republican lawmakers and conservative news outlets alike who piled on a Washington Times "exclusive" report that she spent $250 at a hair salon in Washington. The congresswoman challenged these same GOP critics to blast their "idol" Trump for paying $70,000 in haircut expenses during his time on NBC's The Apprentice, according to a long-awaited New York Times report Sunday, which revealed the president's taxes and financial expenditures.
Last year Republicans blasted a firehose of hatred vitriol my way because I treated myself to a $250 cut & lowlights on my birthday.
Where's the criticism of their idol spending $70k on hairstyling?
Oh, it's nowhere because they're spineless, misogynistic hypocrites? Got it. https://t.co/xCQGwW7EK5 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 28, 2020 Newsweek subscription offers >
Ocasio-Cortez joined other Trump critics in pointing out what they describe as the glaring "hypocrisy" and sexism tied to criticism of her and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's hairstyling habits—while there is not a word from Republicans over Trump's lavish beauty fees.
"Last year Republicans blasted a firehose of hatred + vitriol my way because I treated myself to a $250 cut & lowlights on my birthday," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy Sunday evening. "Where's the criticism of their idol spending $70k on hairstyling? Oh, it's nowhere because they're spineless, misogynistic hypocrites? Got it."
"EXCLUSIVE: Self-declared socialist AOC splurges on high-dollar hairdo," blared a Washington Times headline last October, with the article detailing how the lawmaker "spent nearly $300 on her hairdo" and lowlights at the Last Tangle Salon in Washington. Dozens of conservative outlets such as the New York Post used the opportunity to mock the congresswoman—who is an outspoken supporter of progressive Independent Senator Bernie Sanders—as a "socialist."
But Ocasio-Cortez flipped the criticism, which many of her supporters openly ridiculed as absurd, to promote discussion of the "pink tax." The so-called "pink tax" is the trend of women's products and services costing more than comparable men's products.
After Fox News hosts and GOP lawmakers criticized AOC's haircut last year, she noted at the time a Citizens for Ethics report that highlighted Vice President Mike Pence using "taxpayer funds" instead of personal funds on several thousands of dollars worth of haircuts himself.
The New York Times bombshell report on Trump's taxes Sunday detailed how Trump claimed $70,000 worth of expenses simply for hairstyling costs tied to television appearances. But the president was not the only member of the Trump family who shelled out tens of thousands of dollars for cosmetic costs. His daughter and senior White House aide, Ivanka, received $95,464 through nine haircuts paid for by Trump's company.
Trump ex-wife Ivana stated during a 1990 deposition that her soon-to-be ex-husband lashed out at her with physical violence because he was experiencing pain caused by a scalp reduction surgery he underwent the previous year. The procedure was used to remove the skin producing bald spots.
Ocasio-Cortez continued her criticism of the Trump family's lavish spending reported in the Times piece: "In 2016 & '17, I paid thousands of dollars a year in taxes *as a bartender.* Trump paid $750. He contributed less to funding our communities than waitresses & undocumented immigrants. Donald Trump has never cared for our country more than he cares for himself. A walking scam," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to the Times report.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for reaction Monday morning.
wdomeika on September 28th, 2020 at 15:30 UTC »
Two differences between AOC's $250 haircut and Trumps $70K hairstyling:
1) She actually paid for it
2) She didn't write it off on her taxes
MC_Fap_Commander on September 28th, 2020 at 14:31 UTC »
The American electorate is not... universally super smart. You win with slogans and simple anecdotes most of the time. The "$70,000 haircut" is simple and easily understood. It makes Trump look pathetic. This needs to be hit hard.
_Xelum_ on September 28th, 2020 at 14:18 UTC »
He spent more on getting his hair-did than the average American worker gets paid in a year