Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
No, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn’t say the moon is more important than the sun
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., didn’t say the moon is more useful than the sun, and neither did U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
But the New York Democrat is credited with the quote in a recent Facebook post.
"The moon is more important than the sun as the moon gives us light at night when it is dark out. The sun only gives us light during the day when it is already light out," reads quoted text overlaying a photo of Ocasio-Cortez.
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
Featured Fact-check
We found no evidence that Ocasio-Cortez said this. It doesn’t appear in her social media channels or press releases. We also found no news coverage attributing the statement to the representative.
In January, Snopes fact-checked a claim that Boebert made a similar statement (she didn’t), and found that such a sentiment has circulated for at least a century. In 1875, a British newspaper attributed it to "an Irishman."
We rate claims Ocasio-Cortez said this False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, April 23, 2024
Snopes, Did Lauren Boebert Say the Moon Is More Useful Than the Sun?, Jan .11, 2024
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez press releases, visited April 30, 2024
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Facebook account, visited April 30, 2024
@AOC X account, visited April 30, 2024
@RepAOC account, visited April 30, 2024
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Instagram account, visited April 30, 2024
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
No, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn’t say the moon is more important than the sun
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.