On Tuesday, Jerry Falwell, Jr., the president of Liberty University in Virginia, invited Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to speak at his university.
The invite came after Ocasio-Cortez posted a video of Falwell with a quote from his 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) speech insinuating that his marks were Islamophobic — and also falsely claiming that they were made during this year’s CPAC, instead of the 2015 gathering.
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: “‘I always thought that if more good people had concealed carry permits, then we could end these Muslims before they [unintelligible.]’ This was just this weekend at CPAC, the conference attended by the President and members, to 1000s. Where’s the resolution against Islamophobia?”
Falwell responded to Ocasio-Cortez, claiming that she lied.
“I thought @AOC was just dumb but she is a liar too,” Falwell tweeted. “She claims this was @CPAC last week when it was actually in 2015 the day after the deadly CA attacks by radical Muslims (‘those’ Muslims I referenced) She also deleted the last part of my quote ‘before they walk in and kill us’.”
Ocasio-Cortez then slammed Falwell’s rhetoric from a second video from this year’s CPAC, which was posted by a Twitter user who claims Falwell threatened to shoot AOC.
“My boys always have guns in their hands — that’s not something you teach them, that’s something they’re born with,” Falwell says in the video while on a panel which included Donald Trump, Jr. “I’ve got a 100 cows, you just let Alexandria Cortez show up at my house and try to take my cows away.”
“I love cows, Jerry, they’re delicious,” Trump responded.
“Cool cool – this is fine, totally acceptable and normal rhetoric; legitimized by the presence of members of Congress and the President,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted sarcastically. “Let me guess: no apology is necessary here, because they’ve simply been ‘misunderstood.'”
Falwell said he did not threaten Ocasio-Cortez.
“Another lie!” Falwell tweeted. “Never threatened anyone, only promised to keep my cows! You people are nuts!”
Shortly after, Falwell invited Ocasio-Cortez over Twitter to speak at Liberty University’s convocation.
“@AOC Although we disagree on most of our politics, I would love to offer you the invite to come present your ideas at Liberty Convocation. Unlike most schools we welcome free speech and hearing from those who differ from our political views.”
Liberty University’s campus pastor, David Nasser, also urged Ocasio-Cortez to attend, according to the university’s newspaper, the Liberty Champion.
“Please join us at @LibertyU @AOC. Our convocation is the largest weekly gathering of young adults in the world & as an institute of higher learning, we want to hear your political ideas.”
Ocasio-Cortez has not yet responded to Falwell’s offer.
In 2015, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spoke at Liberty University’s convocation.
“Let me be very frank. I understand that issues such as abortion and gay marriage are very important to you and that we disagree on those issues. I get that,” Sanders said at the beginning of his speech, Politico reported. “But I came here today because I believe from the bottom of my heart that it is vitally important for those of us who hold different views to be able to engage in a civil discourse.”
During his speech, there were reportedly no boos and plenty of cheers at the conservative Christian university.