Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announces she’s freezing her eggs, teases 2028 presidential run, ‘Don’t be weird about this’

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has confirmed that she’s freezing her eggs as speculation about her 2028 presidential hopes rises.

The 36-year-old New York congresswoman and vocal Trump critic posted an Instagram story talking us through her decision, emphasizing that women have a right to make their own “family choices”, saying: “There is so much negative messaging that is directed towards women around our family choices. Period. Kind of no matter what choice you make − if you have kids, when you have kids, whatever.”

In the clip, she told viewers “don’t be weird about this” and administered an injection. Later, in comments on ABC she opened up on some of the tips she’s learned and discussed costs, procedures, egg storage and other fertility matters while criticizing the United States’ “broken” political system.

“This administration is denying reproductive care to women”

Ocasio-Cortez framed this as an important political issue, saying, “In this environment where this administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations and share these processes.”

This comes against the backdrop of gradually increasing speculation that Ocasio-Cortez will officially announce her candidacy as the Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election. Her chances have been boosted by polls showing her as the frontrunner, though she’s kept things intentionally vague.

In the ABC interview she went a little further than before, saying “I haven’t ruled out the possibility and I’m very humbled to the tremendous amount of support out there. …But the focus must remain on the midterm elections in November and not on individual aspirations or plans.” 

It has also been noted that Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to freeze her eggs could be a direct indication she’s planning her presidential campaign and knows she will be very busy over the next few years. As Reason.com said: “She’s choosing not to have kids at age 36, but rather to hold off for several years at minimum. This indicates to me that she might be throwing around the idea of running for president, if her party will give her its blessing.”

However, a lot will happen in politics before the 2028 presidential campaign begins in earnest. The November midterms will set the political stage for the second half of Trump’s term, potentially hobbling him if the Democrats control both the House and the Senate.

But Ocasio-Cortez is focused on winning, telling ABC: “Democrats have a responsibility to build a winning coalition, and young people are engaging in mediums and conversations that we have a responsibility to attend to and be responsive to.”