U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez prompted confusion and mockery after declaring an accounting firm was responsible for a toxic chemical dump.
Speaking alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders during a town hall event on Wednesday, the New York Democrat ranted about a river that caught fire after a toxic dump, which she blamed on Deloitte, an accounting and consulting firm based in the United Kingdom.
“Rivers were on fire because of corporations poisoning the people who lived in those areas, ” Ocasio-Cortez declared at one point during the 90-minute town hall with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
AOC says “rivers were on fire” because of corporations like Deloitte “pouring chemicals” into waterways.
Deloitte is an accounting, consulting, and tax services firm.
No idea what she’s talking about. pic.twitter.com/mLX64nPnVk
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) October 16, 2025
“Poor, middle-class communities getting poisoned and dumped on by corporations like Deloitte and 3M, pouring chemicals into these places,” she continued.
Blaming an accounting and tax services company for harming communities with toxic chemical dumps left many viewers confused.
I don’t think she knows what she’s talking about♂️
— Sputnik️ (@VasBroughtToX) October 16, 2025
Did they pour out copy machine toner?
— Butterdog (@Butters09016449) October 16, 2025
Oh boy, Deloitte is going to ask AOC to issue an apology, and they should make it stick.
This mistake is not just a slip of the tongue; it misrepresents Deloitte’s business and could damage its reputation.
— Kelly Holmes (@kell71191) October 16, 2025
Many social media users surmised that AOC meant to say DuPont.
Deloitte, Du Pont, what’s the difference?
— BearFlagFan (@BearFlagFan) October 16, 2025
Maybe she meant DuPont. She really has no idea what she is spewing!!
— Liberty (@Svoboda_Liberty) October 16, 2025
Dow, Dupont, they all start with ‘D’. pic.twitter.com/5SOZFkn0Ir
— Veronica Cline Barton️♀️ (@VClinebarton) October 16, 2025
Of course, CNN’s Collins did not correct Ocasio-Cortez, perhaps from ignorance.
She doesn’t know either. Dumb and Dumber.
— Kelly (@KJet010820) October 16, 2025
This is what happens when journalism dies. Nothing but activists sitting behind those microphones
— #LetsGoPitt (@coachanthony79) October 16, 2025
Many X users used the flub to launch into entertaining theories.
Lots of chemicals go into accounting these days
— My Senator is a Liar (@charlie_edgett) October 16, 2025
I was let go from Deloitte today
I was in charge of their secret waste management system at project that was revealed by AOC
— Gidwell (暇人/acc) (@gidwell0x) October 16, 2025
Maybe Deloitte is so rich they’re throwing out the cash they’re using to light their cigars?
— Chad Walls (@chadwalls3) October 16, 2025
I’m a former Deloitte consultant and I am guilty of pouring Draino into my sink waterway.
— Queen of Hearts (@QueenOfHeartsSF) October 16, 2025
A few rivers in the US did catch fire in the 1960’s due to chemical pollution.
But no accounting firm ever dumped flammable waste in a river.
— Fit American (@fitAmerican60) October 16, 2025
I’m dying… I have worked for Deloitte and never needed chemicals to consult my clients
— Jan Lukas Kühn (@JanLukasKuehn) October 16, 2025
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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