AOC's Abuela Finally Gets Help, But It's Not from Who You Think
UPDATE, June 5, 2021: This article has been updated to note that as of Saturday, June 5, the GoFundMe fundraiser started by Matt Walsh has ended, with over $104,000 raised. Walsh posted an update to the page, explaining that the fundraiser came to an end after he received an email from GoFundMe informing him the beneficiary would not be accepting any money raised.
“UPDATE: ‘Someone’ in AOC’s abuela’s family told GoFundMe that she won’t take our money, even though AOC previously claimed that her grandma was in dire straits (and it was Trump’s fault). AOC still hasn’t acknowledged this effort or thanked us. Instead, she seems to think that it is worth $104,153 of her abuela’s money to express that doesn’t want money from the likes of us. Abuela could have accepted the money and donated it to charity, but it seems AOC preferred to insult the 5.800 people who donated.
GoFundMe is issuing a refund and assures us that 100% of every donation will be refunded within 3-7 business days. The email from GoFundMe is copied below.
Tragically this charitable effort has been sabotaged by forces outside of our control. Still I’m grateful for the outpouring of support for Abuela, even if AOC isn’t. But questions remain: Why didn’t AOC help her own abuela? Why was our help turned down? We are left to speculate.
In the end, our campaign raised 100 thousand dollars and could have solved a problem in ten hours that AOC couldn’t solve in four years. We can all be proud of that. As for Abuela, all we can do now is pray.”
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s grandmother may be getting financial help from an unlikely person — the Daily Wire’s most controversial tweeter, Matt Walsh.
Walsh created a GoFundMe campaign Friday morning to “Save AOC’s Abuela’s Ancestral Home,” following a concerning Twitter thread posted by the socialist congresswoman regarding her grandmother’s house in Puerto Rico.
“As you’ve heard, @AOC’s abuela is living in a dilapidated home that was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. AOC is unable to help her own grandma for whatever reason, so I have set up this Go Fund Me campaign to save her home. Please give if you can. #HelpAbuela,” the conservative commentator tweeted on Friday.
As you’ve heard, @AOC’s abuela is living in a dilapidated home that was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. AOC is unable to help her own grandma for whatever reason, so I have set up this Go Fund Me campaign to save her home. Please give if you can. #HelpAbuela https://t.co/F1N0Jxgnxg
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 4, 2021
The congresswoman, who makes $174,000 a year, blamed former President Donald Trump for blocking aid to the territory following Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
“Just over a week ago, my abuela fell ill. I went to Puerto Rico to see her- my 1st time in a year+ bc of COVID. This is her home. Hurricane María relief hasn’t arrived. Trump blocked relief $ for PR. People are being forced to flee ancestral homes, & developers are taking them,” she tweeted.
“We immediately got to work reaching out to community advocates and leaders and following the money. What’s happening to Puerto Ricans is systemic,” she added.
We immediately got to work reaching out to community advocates and leaders and following the money.
What’s happening to Puerto Ricans is systemic. Much of it can be traced to La Junta, aka the Wall Street-connected fiscal control board that the US gave power to over the island.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 2, 2021
I want to be clear – while Trump admin had a major role, it wasn’t just them.
La Junta, local policies, etc were all on the same page: policies that pushed out local families.
To turn this around, we need audits & get recovery relief to people ASAP, without the onerous strings.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 2, 2021
And for the record – my abuela is doing okay. It’s not about us, but about what’s happening to Puerto Rican’s across the island.
She had a place to go to and be cared for – what about the thousands of people who don’t?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 2, 2021
After showing photos of her ill grandmother’s house, which arguably does not seem livable, she insisted that her grandmother is doing just fine.
“And for the record – my abuela is doing okay,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “It’s not about us, but about what’s happening to Puerto Rican’s across the island. She had a place to go to and be cared for – what about the thousands of people who don’t?”
Despite Ocasio-Cortez’s $174,000 a year, it is unclear if she has provided any financial assistance to her grandmother to help restore the house that she claims was damaged during the hurricane.
The fundraiser has already collected over $26,000 from over a thousand donors, but it is not currently clear where the money will go if the money is either not accepted by her grandmother or those who donated are unable to track her down.
We’ve raised nearly 10 thousand dollars in less than an hour. Over 400 compassionate donors have contributed. I am so inspired by this outpouring of support! https://t.co/3evghuyW2I
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 4, 2021
Regardless, if the money actually ends up going to her or a charity, this effort perfectly explains how political stunts often backfire.
While the congresswoman was probably looking to raise awareness about the long-term consequences of Hurricane Maria, her lack of context behind her grandmother’s living situation makes her come across as neglectful.
Walsh’s bold response to her thread was humorous, but shows that anything is possible when you call on Americans to band together for good.
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