Trump on Ocasio-Cortez: 'She's got a spark'

Former President Trump on Monday offered rare praise for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), telling an online streamer the congresswoman has "a good spark."

Trump sat for an interview with internet personality Adin Ross on the platform Kick, where Ross displayed photos of various celebrities and lawmakers and asked Trump for his reaction to each person. When Ross displayed Ocasio-Cortez's photo, the former president initially said, "Fake."

"But in all fairness, but she knows it. She’s got a thing going. But it's a good thing. Good thing for her," Trump said. "She’s got a spark that’s pretty amazing actually. She’s got a good spark. I’ll change it. I’ll say spark."

Trump said when he first saw Ocasio-Cortez burst onto the political scene he was reminded of the former first lady of Argentina, Eva Perón. And he claimed he warned aides to former Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) during his 2018 primary against Ocasio-Cortez that she could be a threat to him politically. Crowley lost that primary to Ocasio-Cortez.

"She’s got a lot of sizzle," Trump said.

Author Tim Alberta previously reported on Trump making comparisons between Ocasio-Cortez and Perón.

Trump has repeatedly attacked Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive members of the Squad, at one point in 2019 telling Democratic lawmakers to "go back" to countries they came from

Ocasio-Cortez has been a relentless critic of Trump since she was elected to Congress in 2018. The congresswoman in late July pledged her "full support" to Vice President Harris after President Biden ended his candidacy.

"Now more than ever, it is crucial that our party and country swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy. Let’s get to work," Ocasio-Cortez posted on the social platform X.