Claim:
In December 2025, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of having a drinking problem, saying: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her sober on the House floor … She handles herself well, but that’s not the point. She needs help.”
Rating:
A rumor that U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., accused former Democratic U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of having a drinking problem circulated online in December 2025. For example, the Facebook account America’s Last Line of Defense posted the claim (archived) on Dec. 9. The caption began:
AOC says now that Nancy Pelosi is retiring, it’s time for her to admit to her drinking problem.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her sober on the House floor,” said Ocasio-Cortez, “She handles herself well, but that’s not the point. She needs help.”
Variations of the rumor spread on X (archived) as well as other Facebook accounts (archived), and Snopes readers also searched the site for answers.
Some readers seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. However, there was no evidence Ocasio-Cortez said Pelosi had a drinking problem.
Rather, the rumor about Ocasio-Cortez’ accusation originated with America’s Last Line of Defense — a social media account and website that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. Its About page states:
Everything on this website is fiction. It is not a lie and it is not fake news because it is not real. If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined. Any similarities between this site’s pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical. See above if you’re still having an issue with that satire thing.
A Google search of the keywords “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her sober on the House floor” — which Ocasio-Cortez allegedly said — primarily revealed results related to the satirical claim. If there was any veracity to the rumor, reputable news media platforms would have reported the news.
(Google.com)
The claim that Pelosi has a drinking problem is not a new one; false reports and altered videos have been circulating for years. Since at least 2010, Pelosi’s office has maintained that she does not drink.
America’s Last Line of Defense — also known as the Dunning-Kruger Times — has a history of making up stories for shares and comments.
Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims stemming from the site in the past, including the assertion that Trump gifted his private plane to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a rumor that the Clinton Foundation lost its tax-exempt charity status after a Pentagon audit.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.
Sources
‘Dunning-Kruger-Times.Com’. Dunning-Kruger-Times.Com, 5 July 2025, https://dunning-kruger-times.com/.
Evon, Dan. ‘Does Video Show Nancy Pelosi Drunk and Slurring Her Speech?’ Snopes, 24 May 2019, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/nancy-pelosi-slurring-speech/.
Jacobson, Louis. ‘Michele Bachmann Accuses Nancy Pelosi of Spending $100,000 on Alcohol for Flights’. @politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2010/sep/21/michele-bachmann/michele-bachmann-accuses-nancy-pelosi-spending-100/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.
PolitiFact, Daniel Funke. ‘Why False Claims about Nancy Pelosi Being Drunk Keep Going Viral — Even Though She Doesn’t Drink’. Poynter, 4 Aug. 2020, https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2020/why-false-claims-about-nancy-pelosi-being-drunk-keep-going-viral-she-doesnt-drink/.
