Charlamagne blasts AOC for ‘beating around the bush,’ presses progressives on backing Hakeem Jeffries

Radio host Charlamagne tha God blasted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for "beating around the bush" about House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries' bid for speaker on Friday — criticizing her explanation of leadership elections instead of directly calling for a challenger.

"I'm watching a lot of beating around the bush. When I see AOC do her tutorial on Instagram Live and I see her getting asked questions … What she really wants to say is, ‘I don’t think Hakeem Jeffrey should be the speaker,'" Charlamagne said during Friday’s episode of the Loud Speakers Network's "The Brilliant Idiots" podcast.

"But, instead of just coming out and saying that and saying, 'Hey, I don't think he should be the speaker of the House. Somebody should challenge him,' she's kind of like beating around the bush telling people why, you know, what the process would look like," he continued. "We don't need a civics lesson."

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The debate over Jeffries' bid has extended beyond podcast commentary to incoming lawmakers weighing their votes. 

Rep.-elect Adam Hamawy, D-N.J., said his support should not be taken for granted.

"We're not withholding votes," Hamawy said. "What we’re doing is saying we're undecided. We’re not going to rubber-stamp anything."

Other Democrats have expressed firm support for Jeffries. Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., a Congressional Black Caucus member, left no uncertainty about his choice.

"Hakeem Jeffries all the way," Bell said, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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Charlamagne's assessment followed a social media clip, in which Ocasio-Cortez explained how lawmakers enter leadership races. She encouraged viewers to ask whom their representatives supported rather than simply whether they opposed a particular candidate.

"The question needs to be, ‘Who do you actually want for the speakership? Who is running?’ And right now, both of these races are uncontested," Ocasio-Cortez said.

Charlamagne challenged whether that procedural explanation addressed progressives' disagreements with Jeffries, particularly over military assistance to Israel, and questioned how lawmakers who have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide could support leaders they believe would continue those policies.

"We need, ‘Hey, AOC, simple and plain. As a person, who has said Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, how can you support leaders that you know who continue to support, in your words, the genocide?’" Charlamagne said.

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Ocasio-Cortez was among the lawmakers listed on a November 2025 resolution, seeking recognition of genocide in Gaza.

Jeffries, who announced his speaker candidacy after the midterms, addressed divisions over Israel assistance during an interview on Wednesday, saying that lawmakers would work together to reconsider how assistance is provided.

"Clearly, dramatic change is necessary," Jeffries said. "I've repeatedly made that point clear, including in July in a letter to the Caucus."

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of AOC, Jeffries and Schumer for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.