Champagne Socialism? AOC spent THOUSANDS on luxury hotels, meals, travel, concerts, while 'fighting the oligarchy'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign spent thousands of dollars on expenses that included stays at luxury hotels and high-end dining while she was on a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour with Senator Bernie Sanders. This spending drew scrutiny and accusations of hypocrisy from critics.

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings reviewed by various news outlets in late 2025, her campaign made several multi-thousand dollar payments to upscale boutique hotels, including over $3,500 at the Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas, over $3,100 at The Leo Kent Hotel in Tucson, and over $3,400 at the Asher Adams Hotel in Salt Lake City. Stays at other high-end hotels in New York and Vermont were also reported.

The campaign also spent large sums on high-end food vendors and catering, including a $6,300 bill at a D.C. restaurant. Additionally, Ocasio-Cortez was reportedly spotted in a first-class cabin and traveling on a private jet with Sanders during the tour, which drew further criticism given their public stance on climate change and corporate greed.

Recent reports from December 2025 indicated the campaign spent nearly $50,000 in Puerto Rico between June and September of that year on luxury hotels, meals, and a $23,000 venue rental at the same arena where she attended a Bad Bunny concert. A campaign manager stated that she "regularly travels to Puerto Rico to support local causes and host events that require both staff and security."

Critics labeled the spending "champagne socialism" and "hypocritical." Supporters argued that the issue with oligarchy is about the systemic abuse of power, not the personal spending choices of a single politician, and that these expenses were part of necessary campaign operations