Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) used the global stage of the Munich Security Conference on Friday to press for sweeping economic reforms in the United States, including the rapid implementation of a federal wealth tax and renewed funding commitments to international aid programs such as USAID.
During a panel discussion focused on the rise of populism worldwide, Ocasio-Cortez argued that economic inequality and weakened democratic norms are fueling political instability across nations. When asked whether she would impose a wealth tax if she were president, she responded that action should not hinge on a single individual.
Question: When you run for president, are you going to impose a wealth tax or a billionaire’s tax? @AOC: “We don’t have to wait for any one president to impose a wealth tax.” pic.twitter.com/tkGUVxrZSE
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 13, 2026
“I don’t think that anyone — and that we don’t have to wait for any one president to impose a wealth tax,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I think that it needs to be done expeditiously.”
The congresswoman also called for stronger corporate regulation, higher wages, and policies aimed at narrowing income disparities in the U.S., framing economic inequality as a key driver of populist political movements.
Much of the discussion centered on geopolitical tensions and what panelists described as the strain on democratic institutions. Ocasio-Cortez criticized former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy posture, saying the United States is in a “very grave” position globally and suggesting that long-standing alliances and international norms are being eroded.
.@AOC debates in Munich: “We have to have a working class-centered politics, if we are going to succeed and also if we are going to stave off the scourges of authoritarianism, which provide political siren calls to allure people into finding scapegoats to blame for rising… pic.twitter.com/gD4UCR7Apl
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 13, 2026
She referenced what she described as inconsistencies in Western foreign policy, including alleged double standards in addressing conflicts and international law. In remarks widely interpreted as referencing the Israel-Hamas war, she said Western nations have at times “looked the other way in a genocide,” arguing that such actions undermine the credibility of democratic governments.
Ocasio-Cortez also advocated restoring funding for USAID and other international agreements from which the Trump administration withdrew. She framed foreign aid as an investment in global stability and democratic partnerships.
.@AOC says she’s at the Munich Security Conference to tell the world about the “grave” threat of the Trump admin:
“I think this is a moment where we are seeing our presidential administration tear apart the Transatlantic partnership.” pic.twitter.com/m4IXfMXdyi
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 13, 2026
“You know, first and foremost, I think we need to revisit our commitments to international aid,” she said, referencing both USAID and broader global compacts.
USAID has recently faced scrutiny following audits conducted under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which identified billions of dollars in what officials described as wasteful or misallocated spending. Supporters of the agency argue that foreign aid remains a critical tool of U.S. soft power and humanitarian engagement, while critics contend that oversight and accountability are insufficient.
