Tucker Carlson has launched a bizarre attack on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, claiming the progressive Democrat is a “moron” and “nasty” – all while supporting her views on the US economy.

The Fox News host featured an entire segment of his Monday night episode condemning a town hall the lawmaker attended that was hosted by MSNBC and focused on her push for the Green New Deal, a comprehensive proposal to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change on the US economy, national security and public health.

“The very same news outlet that’s spent two years lying to you about Russia brings you a 29-year-old former bartender to teach you about science,” Mr Carlson began, as clips of the congresswoman speaking to MSNBC host Chris Hayes played beside him.

“So it’s official. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a moron and nasty and more self-righteous than any televangelist who ever preached a sermon on cable access. She’s not impressive, she’s awful,” he continued.

Moments later, Mr Carlson added a caveat: “Not everything she says is wrong,” he said, before playing a clip of Ms Ocasio-Cortez discussing the current state of the US economy from the same town hall.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez greets fellow lawmakers ahead of the State of the Union address Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participates in an event with Democratic members of Congress EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures The Democrat senator speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol January 30, 2019 Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and fellow Democrat Rashida Tlaib AP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the Senate chamber to watch two votes on January 24, 2019 Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrives with Chellie Pingree at a House Democratic Caucus meeting Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez during Donald Trump's State of the Union address Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures New York State Assembly member Catalina Cruz with Ocasio-Cortez AFP/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Nydia Velazquez talks with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez casts her vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez poses with a campaign worker during a whistle stop in the Queens borough of New York Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez outside the US Capitol AFP/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez after casting her ballot in the 2018 midterm general election at a polling site in New York EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looks on during a march organised by the Women's March Alliance in Manhattan Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio Cortez looks on at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2019 AFP/Getty

“OK, you hate to admit it, given the source, but try to ignore the way she said it,” he said. “Maybe just print it out and read it. A lot of it’s basically true. Neither party wants to talk about this.”

In the clip Mr Carlson showed, the congresswoman is discussing “runaway income equality,” saying, “we are at one of our most unequal points — economically speaking — in American history.”

“We are dealing with a crisis of how our economy is even made up,” she continued. “Our economy is increasingly financialised, which means we are making profits off of interest, off of leasing your phone, off of doing all of these things, but we aren’t producing and we aren’t innovating in the way need to as an economy.”

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