Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is once again at the center of a political firestorm—this time over her public support for democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and her comments on immigration enforcement in her home district. The progressive firebrand sat down Wednesday with Mamdani and a group of Democrats at a “Communication and Organizing Skillshare Breakfast” in New York City, just weeks after his stunning upset over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary.

Describing the breakfast as “really positive,” AOC told Fox News Digital that in-person meetings like this are critical. “It’s just important for folks to meet people in person, kick the tires and talk between themselves,” she said. While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer have yet to endorse Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez’s backing remains unwavering, despite mounting criticism of the candidate’s refusal to fully condemn the controversial slogan “globalize the intifada.”

Mamdani recently said he would personally not use the phrase and would discourage others from doing so, but critics say that’s not enough. Jewish leaders have issued stark warnings, with some describing his campaign as an “existential threat” to the city’s Jewish community. The phrase in question, often chanted at anti-Israel rallies, is widely interpreted as a call for violence against Jews.

Ocasio-Cortez brushed aside the controversy, urging skeptics to judge Mamdani by his own words, not by “media static.” She emphasized the importance of direct engagement: “If anyone has any reservations, you know, I think it’s important to meet and hear it straight from the source and make a determination from there.”

In addition to defending Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez weighed in on a hot-button issue plaguing her Bronx and Queens district: the presence of ICE. While she acknowledged that individuals involved in gang violence or harming others should face the full weight of the law—including deportation—she criticized the agency’s broader operations.

“If you are engaged in violence, if you are hurting women, children, of course, you’re subject to crackdowns from the federal law and deportation,” she said. But she then pivoted, slamming ICE for what she described as overreach. “The problem is that a lot of ICE activity is wasting resources not on people who are actually hurting and engaged in violence, but they’re raiding kitchens and people who have been doing hard, honest work for years, paying taxes, being productive members of society.”

Her balancing act—condemning gang violence while defending undocumented immigrants who contribute economically—struck a familiar chord for her progressive base, but it also opened the door to new attacks from critics. Detractors have long accused her of being too soft on illegal immigration and too cozy with the far-left fringes of her party.

The political stakes are rising as Mamdani’s campaign continues to divide New York Democrats. His unapologetic socialism and radical rhetoric have alienated moderate voters and establishment figures, yet energized younger, more progressive voters. AOC’s vocal support may help galvanize that wing, but it risks deepening the rift within a Democratic Party already split over issues of crime, antisemitism, and immigration.

Ocasio-Cortez, now considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, is clearly leaning into the moment. Her strategy seems aimed at consolidating the progressive base—even if it means locking horns with party leadership and courting controversy over issues as fraught as ICE enforcement and political rhetoric tied to international conflict.

As the November mayoral election approaches, both AOC and Mamdani are betting that a populist appeal to working-class New Yorkers—framed around rent freezes, affordable childcare, and anti-ICE sentiment—will outshine the backlash. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen.