DSA Democrat, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, voted against an amendment to cut aid for the Israeli Iron Dome system. Just as Trump and Biden have previously done, she argued it was for “self-defence.”
Details. On 18 July, Congress voted on an amendment by Marjorie Taylor Greene to cut $500 million in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome from the $832 billion US defence budget. The amendment was defeated in a 6–422 vote. AOC voted against the amendment, aligning with the overwhelming bipartisan consensus.
▶After backlash, including vandalism of her Bronx office by activists who accused her of enabling genocide, AOC defended her vote in a post on X. She claimed the amendment “does nothing to cut off offensive aid” and would only “cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue.” She added: “I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions… used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza.”
► AOC initially implied critics were lying, saying: “If you’re saying I voted for military funding, you are lying.” She later clarified that she opposed the amendment but voted against the full defence bill — attempting to distinguish between "defensive" and "offensive" aid.
Context. Though AOC presents herself as a socialist and supporter of Palestine, her vote and justification mirrored those of US imperialist leaders. After the 7 October 2023 attacks, Biden declared: “Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop.” In June 2025, during Israel’s strikes on Iran, Trump called the attacks “excellent” while Republican officials reaffirmed Israel’s “self-defence” claim.
► The Iron Dome system protects Israel from retaliation, allowing it to carry out airstrikes across the region without fear of consequences. Even if framed as "defensive," the system is essential to Israel’s broader offensive strategy.
Important to Know. US capitalist representatives — liberal, conservative, or “progressive” — invoke the rhetoric of “self-defence” to justify continued military support for Israel. This bipartisan narrative enables Israel’s Jewish nationalist leadership to maintain and expand regional dominance through military operations in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, in coordination with US imperialist objectives.