Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) sparred with White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on social media Sunday where the freshman lawmaker accused President Donald Trump's most trusted confidant of trying to "stoke suspicion" around her faith.
What happened?
During a Sunday discussion with CNN host Jake Tapper, Conway noted that Ocasio-Cortez had been quick to condemn the Christchurch massacre in New Zealand last month, yet remained silent after hundreds were slaughtered in terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.
After Conway's interview, CNN analyst Julian Zelizer incorrectly claimed in a now-deleted tweet that Conway said Ocasio-Cortez "didn't tweet anything about the synagogue shooting" when, in fact, she had.
In response, Conway corrected Zelizer on Twitter, instructing him to listen "before spewing."
Wrong again. You can delete or apologize (holds breath) I was referring to @AOC silence about the Sri Lanka massac… https://t.co/O8kHVE3rOB— Kellyanne Conway (@Kellyanne Conway)1556466580.0
That's when Ocasio-Cortez inserted herself into the conversation, accusing Conway of taking pot shots at her Christian faith.
However, Conway never commented on Ocasio-Cortez's faith, neither in her conversation with Tapper, nor on social media.
Hello Ms. Conway, On Easter I was away from tech visiting my grandmother in Puerto Rico, which continues to suffer… https://t.co/3UPhcNiZrS— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)1556467982.0
While later emphasizing the importance of referring to the attacks in Sri Lankan churches last week as "Easter worshippers," Ocasio-Cortez attacked Conway and accused her of stoking "suspicion" around her faith.
How did Conway respond?
First, Conway explained the reason why she mentioned Ocasio-Cortez during her interview with Tapper, noting that some people "found it odd a prolific tweeter was silent" about the Sri Lankan massacre.
1/2: Hi Congresswoman @AOC. My best to your grandmother. My grandmothers are irreplaceable; miss them every day.… https://t.co/UyMIrUnOBF— Kellyanne Conway (@Kellyanne Conway)1556480836.0
Then Conway informed Ocasio-Cortez that she was not, in fact, judging her faith.
She also extended an olive branch toward Ocasio-Cortez, instructing the freshman lawmaker to call her if she is serious about bipartisanship and working with the Trump administration.
2/2: @AOC you and I agree. I said on @CNN today & elsewhere that people of all faiths should be free from harm. I… https://t.co/pG6UHJvO31— Kellyanne Conway (@Kellyanne Conway)1556481380.0
Ocasio-Cortez did not immediately respond to Conway's offer.