TL;DR: The Facts Claim: "AOC and Ilhan Omar got $100K+ in student loan forgiveness." Fact: False—the rumor started as satire on a Facebook meme page. Proof: No public records exist of either receiving loan forgiveness (Snopes-verified). Why it spread: Conservative circles amplified the satire as real news.

The Claim That Spread Like Wildfire

Rumors have been swirling that progressive congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Ilhan Omar received massive student loan forgiveness packages - to the tune of $100,000 or more. But where did this idea come from, and is there any truth to it?

Tracing the Rumor to Its Source

The viral claim turns out to have originated from a satirical Facebook post - meaning it was never intended to be taken as fact. Yet, like many political rumors, it took on a life of its own as it spread through conservative circles.

Here's what we know for certain:

• No public records exist showing either congresswoman received loan forgiveness
• Neither has ever claimed to have had student debt canceled
• The original post came from a known satire page

"On June 23, 2024, a Facebook page called America - Love It Or Leave It published a post claiming U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received $142,000 in student loan forgiveness for 'serving her country' - while adding the snide commentary: 'She doesn't serve her country. She makes a fool of herself on behalf of the lefties in Brooklyn.' (Source: Snopes)

The Reality of Their Finances

Let's look at the actual financial situations:

AOC

• Estimated net worth: $100K-$1 million
• Primary income sources: Congressional salary ($174,000) and book deals
• Paid off her student loans through standard repayment

Ilhan Omar

• Estimated net worth: Under $1 million
• No record of receiving loan forgiveness
• Has been open about struggling with student debt in the past

Why These Myths Matter

False claims like this ar