John Kerry: Ocasio-Cortez offered 'more leadership in one day' than Trump on climate

Former Secretary of State John KerryJohn Forbes KerryJohn Kerry: Ocasio-Cortez offered ‘more leadership in one day’ than Trump on climate Overnight Defense: Trump labels elite Iranian military unit a terrorist group | Iran hits back with terrorist label for US Central Command | US troops, contractor killed in Afghanistan blast Overnight Energy: EPA watchdog issues rare ‘alert’ on toxic substances data | Trump to announce new orders to speed up pipeline permits | New Keystone XL pipeline permit challenged in court | Congress approves seven-state drought bill MORE defended freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezJohn Kerry: Ocasio-Cortez offered ‘more leadership in one day’ than Trump on climate Obama had it right — a circular firing squad is on the way Speaker in waiting? Rapid rise of Hakeem Jeffries fuels talk MORE (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday for offering “more leadership in one day or one week than President TrumpDonald John TrumpTop senators warn Turkey: Choose between Russia missile system or US fighter jet Former Michelle Obama aide: ‘Not sure’ if voters got ‘honesty and accountability’ in Biden’s video response How Republicans are battling judicial obstructionism today MORE has in his lifetime” on climate change.

ICYMI: @JohnKerry praises Rep @AOC efforts to combat #climatechange as opposed to #PresidentTrump who refuses to lead on this issue. “Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez has in fact offered more leadership in one day or in one week than #PresidentTrump has in his lifetime on this. ” pic.twitter.com/iQEtLpHZWA

— Oversight Committee (@OversightDems) April 9, 2019

The House Oversight and Reform Committee meeting where Kerry testified was meant to address the intersection of climate change and national security, but several Republicans on the committee used their opening remarks to critique Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) Green New Deal plan to tackle climate change. 

Kerry also criticized Republicans for a failure to offer up a proposal of their own.

“There are a lot of proposals, but none of them are coming from your party or your side of the aisle,” Kerry told Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who had pushed Kerry to explain how the nation would pay for the Green New Deal. 

Kerry came under a fair amount of criticism himself, with Rep. Thomas MassieThomas Harold MassieJohn Kerry: Ocasio-Cortez offered ‘more leadership in one day’ than Trump on climate Overnight Defense: Lawmakers urge Trump not to veto Yemen resolution | Pentagon acknowledges civilian deaths in Somalia for first time | Pompeo ‘confident’ in third North Korea summit Overnight Defense: NATO chief urges US to support alliance on its 70th anniversary | Turkey rebuffs Pentagon pressure over Russia deal | Rand Paul, liberals team up to push Trump on Syria withdrawal MORE (R-Ky.) calling Kerry a “pseudo scientist” in reference to his political science degree.

“Mr. Chairman, this is just not a serious conversation,” Kerry said in response to the exchange.

Ocasio-Cortez responded on Twitter, saying she was “honored and humbled” by Kerry’s remark.

–Updated 12:41 p.m.