The internet ignited with speculation and commentary when it was noticed that U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, often referred to as AOC, had removed pronouns from her bio on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. This seemingly minor change triggered a significant reaction, particularly within right-wing media circles, who interpreted it as a major shift in ideology and a response to recent political events.
The dominant narrative quickly became that AOC’s decision was a direct consequence of Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory and signaled a broader retreat from “woke” politics. This term, frequently used by conservatives, often disparagingly, encompasses identity politics and progressive values. Prominent right-wing voices amplified this sentiment across social media.
Libs of TikTok, a well-known far-right account on X, posted a simple yet impactful message: “JUST IN: AOC removed her pronouns from her bio.” This post rapidly gained traction, fueling the narrative.
Riley Gaines, a swimmer and political activist vocal against transgender athletes in women’s sports, added to the commentary on X: “They’ll pretend they never embraced (or even celebrated) the insanity. Don’t forget who the compliant, virtue-signaling sheep were.” Her statement suggested a broader disillusionment with progressive stances and implied hypocrisy among those who previously championed them.
EndWokeness, an account with over 3 million followers dedicated to “Fighting, exposing, and mocking wokeness,” further emphasized the perceived shift. They posted: “2 years ago, AOC posted an apology for forgetting to put pronouns in her bio. She just removed them on X.” Gaines responded to this post with an enthusiastic, “We’re winning and its glorious,” underscoring the celebratory tone within these circles.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
However, while the right-wing media sphere presented this as a recent and politically motivated change, a crucial detail emerged that challenged this interpretation. Observers and reports indicated that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had actually removed her pronouns from her X bio considerably earlier, well before the recent election cycle and the ensuing political commentary.
Evidence surfaced showing that her pronouns were absent from her bio as far back as July 29, according to screenshots captured by the Internet Archive. The Daily Dot further corroborated this timeline, reporting that AOC had removed pronouns from her bio as early as May. This timeline directly contradicts the narrative that the removal was a reactive measure to recent political developments.
The fervor around AOC’s bio change occurred within a broader context of heightened culture wars in the lead-up to the election. Republicans had heavily emphasized culture war issues, particularly targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party for their support of transgender rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
During a debate with Harris in September, Donald Trump made controversial statements, claiming Harris wanted “to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison.” This statement appeared to reference a 2019 ACLU survey where Harris indicated support for providing gender transition-related medical care to transgender individuals in government care, including prisons.
Trump’s campaign further leaned into this culture war narrative with campaign ads. One widely circulated ad asserted, “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you,” directly linking Harris to pronoun usage and contrasting it with Trump’s perceived focus on the general public.
Following the election, some Democrats acknowledged the effectiveness of the Republican messaging strategy and its potential impact on election outcomes. Representative Tom Suozzi of New York, speaking to The New York Times, stated, “The Democrats have to stop pandering to the far left… I don’t want to discriminate against anybody, but I don’t think biological boys should be playing in girls’ sports.”
Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts echoed similar sentiments, telling the Times that Democrats “spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face. I have two little girls. I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.” These comments highlight an internal debate within the Democratic party regarding their approach to culture war issues and gender identity.
Interestingly, despite the right-wing interpretation of AOC’s pronoun removal as a retreat on transgender rights, her public stance on related issues reveals a different picture. In April 2023, the Biden administration proposed changes to Title IX concerning transgender student athletes.
While aiming to prevent discrimination against trans athletes, the proposed policy also allowed for limitations in competitive environments, particularly in high school and college sports. This nuanced approach drew criticism from both sides, seeking to balance inclusivity with competitive fairness.
AOC strongly criticized this proposed Title IX policy, stating it was “indefensible and embarrassing” and the “opposite” of the Biden administration’s stated commitment to transgender rights. Her strong opposition to the policy suggests a consistent stance in favor of transgender rights, contradicting the interpretation that removing pronouns from her X bio signifies a shift away from these values.
In conclusion, the online uproar regarding Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez removing pronouns from her X bio was largely based on a misinterpretation of the timeline and a pre-existing narrative within right-wing media. While framed as a recent reaction to political shifts and a retreat from “woke” ideology, evidence indicates the removal occurred months prior. Furthermore, AOC’s public criticisms of policies perceived as detrimental to transgender rights suggest a consistent stance on inclusivity, challenging the narrative that her bio change represents an ideological shift. The incident underscores the rapid spread of misinformation and the power of pre-conceived narratives within online political discourse.
