A seemingly ordinary car issue outside the U.S. Capitol turned into a viral moment when Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stepped in to help—earning both admiration and skepticism across the internet.
On September 11, 2024, Capitol Hill staffer Evan Hollander, who works as an aide and driver for Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), found himself with a dead car battery. But instead of calling roadside assistance, he got an unexpected helping hand: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.
Her chief of staff, Mike Casca, snapped a photo of the Congresswoman under the hood of the car and posted it on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “When your car battery expires on the Capitol plaza, instead of calling AAA you just need @AOC.”
The post quickly gained traction, pulling in millions of views. As is often the case with the high-profile New York lawmaker, reactions were mixed—and loud.
Supporters praised the moment as another example of AOC’s hands-on, relatable approach to leadership. One user quipped, “AOC gets there quicker than AAA,” while another commented, “And here I was thinking I couldn’t respect her more.”
But not everyone saw it as a spontaneous good deed. Critics quickly jumped in, mocking Hollander’s apparent helplessness and questioning why he needed assistance in the first place. “What kind of man doesn’t know how to use jumper cables?” one user wrote, while another added, “Don’t think anyone’s shocked this dork needed help.”
Attention also shifted to the two Capitol Police officers seen in the photo standing nearby, seemingly doing nothing while Ocasio-Cortez handled the situation. “Three useless men in one photo,” a commenter joked. Another called it the “beta male starter pack,” painting a broader criticism of masculinity—or lack thereof—in Washington.
Some went further, speculating the entire moment was staged. “This is the most obviously set-up thing I’ve ever seen,” one post claimed. Others accused AOC of turning everything into a photo-op to boost her public image.
Despite the backlash, the incident proved once again that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a master of viral moments. Whether you view her actions as authentic service or strategic self-promotion, she continues to dominate the digital conversation—one viral photo at a time.