Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), known as one of the most pugnacious progressives in the U.S. House, has suddenly fallen in line behind President Joe Biden just as deep divisions within the Democratic Party threaten its chances of putting forward a strong presidential nominee.

Speaking with reporters Monday evening, the Bronx native toed the line when commenting on recent concerns about the president’s health and mental acuity, saying she intends to support him as the nominee. She “spoke to the president over the weekend,” AOC told a scrum outside the Capitol.

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“I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed. He had reiterated that this morning. He has reiterated that to the public. Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is our nominee and I support him,” she said forcefully before trying to turn the tables on Trump.

“What I think is critically important right now is that we focus on what it takes to win in November, because he is running against Donald Trump, who is a man with 34 felony convictions that has committed 34 felony crimes, and not a single Republican has asked for Donald Trump to not be the nominee. I’m here to win on this democracy, I’m here to win in November, and what’s critically important is what I believe the president needs to do… in order to make sure that we win in November… that is making sure that we pivot and working and increasingly commit to the issues that are critically important to working people across this country.

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After nearly a blistering two weeks of negative feedback following his disastrous debate performance, President Biden on Tuesday appeared to have shored up his exposed flank, keeping Democrats and especially progressives in line who fear forcing him out of the race would only set up President Trump for a decisive win. Six House Democrats have called on the party to begin searching for a new nominee, none of which count themselves among the ultra-liberal “Squad” caucus.

AOC’s request that the media put Biden’s debate in the rearview mirror came one day after the president released a two-page letter telling Democrats much the same.

“Now that you have returned from the July 4th recess, I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,” Biden wrote. “I have had extensive conversations with the leadership of the party, elected officials, rank and file members, and most importantly, Democratic voters over these past 10 days or so. I have heard the concerns that people have – their good faith fears and worries about what is at stake in this election. I am not blind to them.”

Just hours later, the 81-year-old incumbent snapped at “Morning Joe” host Mika Brzezinski after she welcomed him on the show as the party’s “presumptive nominee.”
“I’m more than presumptive, I’m gonna be the Democratic nominee,” Biden immediately said during his crisis appearance.