Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has dropped nearly $50,000 on Puerto Rican jaunts while preaching against the very gentrification she might be fueling, as the Daily Mail reports.

According to Federal Election Commission filings, the New York lawmaker’s campaign shelled out $49,945.52 during the third quarter of 2025 for various expenses on the island, including venue rentals, upscale hotel stays, and hefty catering bills, all while she’s been vocal about protecting Puerto Rico from wealthy outsiders.

Let’s start with June 2025, when her campaign forked over $16,725 for a venue rental at the massive 19,000-seat Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

Big Bucks at the Coliseo Venue

Fast forward to August, and another $6,987 went to the same stadium for another rental, though it’s unclear if this tied into her attendance at a Bad Bunny concert there around the same time.

She even posted a video on Instagram, singing along at the show with fellow Democrat Rep. Nydia Velázquez, looking like she was having the time of her life.

While there’s no direct link between her expenses and the concert, the optics of splashing cash at a major venue while locals struggle don’t exactly scream “woman of the people.”

Luxury Stays Raise Eyebrows

Then there’s the hotel spending -- on July 28, her campaign dropped $680 at the Hotel Palacio Provincial, a posh, adults-only spot in San Juan with rooms starting at $269 a night.

More payments followed: $1,507 on Aug. 29, and a whopping $9,440 on Sept. 29 at the same historic hotel, where suites can run $439 nightly.

Add in $3,861 spent on Aug. 25 at the equally fancy Hotel El Convento, and you’ve got a travel itinerary that looks more five-star than grassroots.

Catering Costs and Concert Vibes

Food wasn’t skimped on either -- over $10,700 went to catering and meals, with a hefty $8,561 bill at Cocina Abierta, a San Juan restaurant, making up the bulk of it.

Meanwhile, during the summer of 2025, Ocasio-Cortez took to social media to slam the influence of deep-pocketed folks on the island, saying, “Puerto Rico is an island for working people. We won't be pushed out just so vulture capitalists can cash in,” via a Facebook post in July 2025.

That’s a bold stand, but when you’re dropping thousands on luxury stays and stadium rentals, it’s hard not to wonder if the message matches the money.

Defending the Spending Spree

Her team, of course, has a defense -- senior advisor Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben told Fox News, “She regularly travels to Puerto Rico to support local causes and host events that require both staff and security.”

While advocacy is admirable, and her fundraising prowess -- raking in $19.8 million this year, more than any other House member -- shows her clout, conservatives might argue that true support for working folks doesn’t come with a luxury price tag. Surely, there’s a way to champion Puerto Rico without breaking the bank at high-end hotels.

As speculation swirls about her eyeing bigger roles, perhaps challenging Sen. Chuck Schumer or even aiming for the presidency in 2028, one thing is clear: AOC remains a polarizing figure, popular among progressives but ripe for critique from those who value fiscal restraint over flashy activism.