Since she was first elected in 2018, New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been a leading figure on the left.

Nevertheless, one observer recently argued that Ocasio-Cortez is in danger of being unseated from her role. 

Rep. Jasmine Crockett "seized the mantle" this week

That claim was put forward in an op-ed piece by Daily Caller editor John Loftus, who wrote, "Democratic New York Vlogger and part-time Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez previously chaired the Imbecile Caucus. She was the OG. The queen of the left-wing quixotic."

"However, Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett seized the mantle late Tuesday night with some shrewd speculation about President Donald Trump’s partnership with AOC’s crush, Elon Musk, and his Vice President, J.D. Vance," he continued.

Loftus then proceeded to highlight a social media post in which Crockett referenced a press conference which Musk and Trump held in the Oval Office.

In it, Crockett suggested that Trump's decision to appear alongside Musk rather than his vice president may indicate a rift between the two men.

"So name one thing y’all have seen about JD Vance [and] what he is up to," the left-leaning Texas congresswoman wrote.

Vance was making his first overseas speech

"I was watching clips of Trump [and] Elon in the Oval Office and thought this is weird, but uhhh even more odd is that he clearly has a partner in crime… it just doesn’t seem to be the flunky he ran with," she added.

Yet Loftus pointed out how Vance's absence from the White House on Tuesday is explained by the fact that he was giving his first overseas speech at the AI Action Summit in Paris

Vice President JD Vance gave his first major international address today since assuming office at the AI Action Summit in Paris, France. Summary below.

Some of those in attendance were President Macron, Prime Minister Modi, EC President Ursula von der Leyen, UN Secretary-General… pic.twitter.com/dicGU9RukP

— Paul Villarreal (AKA Vince Manfeld) (@AureliusStoic1) February 11, 2025

"We feel very strongly that AI must remain free from ideological bias and that American AI will not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship," Fox News quoted Vance as saying.

Vice president promises "pro-growth AI policies"

The vice president also cautioned that "excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it's taking off."

He then pledged that the Trump administration "make every effort to encourage pro-growth AI policies" and called for a "deregulatory flavor" in conversations concerning artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, Loftus concluded his piece by declaring that "if Crockett wants to maintain her leadership position in the Imbecile Caucus" then "she better keep firing off those hot and spicy late-night X posts."