“Take Airbnb,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X<\/a>. “They heavily lobby politicians against passing housing laws to protect working class residents because it\u2019s bad for their business model.”<\/p>\n The New York Democrat argued the short-term rental giant has expanded by benefiting from housing shortages and displacement in communities across the United States.<\/p>\n “Airbnb could not exist at its current scale and size without the housing market<\/a> destabilizations, displacements, and exploits that are supercharging the evictions of working people everywhere from Puerto Rico to Jackson Hole,” Ocasio-Cortez said.<\/p>\n AOC CALLED OUT FOR CLAIM THAT BILLIONAIRES ‘CAN’T EARN’ THEIR WEALTH AS SHE DOUBLES DOWN ON REMARKS<\/a><\/p>\n Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Airbnb while arguing short-term rental platforms contribute to housing instability and displacement. (Tom Brenner\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n The comments came during a public exchange with Paul Graham, a prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur and co-founder of Y Combinator, over whether billionaires can ethically earn their wealth<\/a> through innovation and business growth.<\/p>\n “Sure you can earn a billion dollars,” Graham said<\/a>. “I\u2019ve been teaching people how to do it for 20 years. The way you do it is to start a company that grows fast. You don\u2019t have to do anything bad to make a company grow fast. You just have to make something people want.”<\/p>\n Ocasio-Cortez rejected Graham’s argument, saying rapid corporate growth often depends on accumulating political and market power.<\/p>\n “Someone can certainly make a billion dollars. That\u2019s not the same thing as earning,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.<\/p>\n SIX DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PROVE THE WEALTHY PAY A LOT MORE THAN THEIR \u2018FAIR SHARE\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Airbnb has faced scrutiny from progressive lawmakers and housing advocates over its effect on housing affordability in major cities. (Amazon)<\/p>\n “Growing fast and disrupting markets also often means chasing and wielding market power, political influence, and scale.”<\/p>\n AOC argued younger Americans are increasingly locked out of homeownership because of investor activity and rising housing costs.<\/p>\n “Now young people are planning for a future where they will never be able to afford to own a home while others have 20 and live off renting it out to them at extortionate rates with zero protections,” Ocasio-Cortez said.<\/p>\n “Yes, a tiny amount of people can make billions of dollars doing that. And millions of everyday Americans are bearing the cost.”<\/p>\n WASHINGTON POST BLASTS RENT CONTROL AS ‘FAILED POLICY’ THAT LEAVES RENTERS ‘WORSE OFF’ THAN BEFORE<\/a><\/p>\n Paul Graham defended startup founders\u2019 ability to build billion-dollar companies by “making something people want,” prompting pushback from Ocasio-Cortez. (Alex Kraus\/Bloomberg)<\/p>\n The exchange sparked criticism from investors and tech executives who defended Airbnb hosts and the broader startup economy. Michael Seibel, a partner at Y Combinator, argued many Airbnb users are ordinary homeowners attempting to supplement their income.<\/p>\n “The housing in Airbnb isn\u2019t controlled by some \u2018evil public corporation\u2019 \u2014 it\u2019s controlled by normal citizens trying to pay their bills,” Seibel said.<\/p>\n Ocasio-Cortez later clarified that her criticism was aimed at larger systemic incentives rather than individual property<\/a> owners.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s not about individual morality,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It\u2019s about exploiting the landscape.”<\/p>\n Seibel later pushed back again, questioning whether users themselves bear responsibility for Airbnb\u2019s growth and success.<\/p>\n “Why are you ignoring the users of companies?” Seibel said. “Airbnb cannot survive without its users. Are they exploiting the landscape?”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE<\/a><\/p>\n AOC accused Airbnb of lobbying against housing regulations to protect its business model. (Mateusz Slodkowski\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/p>\n The issue became contentious in New York City<\/a>, where officials enacted short-term rental regulations in 2023 that sharply restricted Airbnb operations throughout the city.<\/p>\n![\"Rep.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/aoc-minimum-wage-press-conference.png\")
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