Twitter‘s new owner Elon Musk got into a war of words with New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over the tech billionaire’s decision to charge users $8 to keep their accounts verified. 

Musk announced the changes earlier this week in response to widespread backlash from Twitter’s power users after the billionaire suggested that users pay $20 for Twitter Blue. The fee would include a subscription to the platform’s premium service which would let users retain the blue check next to their account portraits which shows their account as authentic. Musk hasn’t announced when he plans to officially push the new $8 fee on to the platform. 

The move has had its fair share of detractors and supporters. AOC said that the billionaire’s decision was not really the visionary ideal of “free speech” that he has presenting. 

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“Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that “free speech” is actually a $8/mo subscription plan,” she tweeted. 

“Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8,” Musk replied. 

Musk later followed up with questioning emoji with a screenshot of AOC’s sweatshirt which she sells on her website for $58. Of course, the New York representative had an answer. 

“Proud of this and always will be.

My workers are union, make a living wage, have full healthcare, and aren’t subject to racist treatment in their workplaces. Items are made in USA.

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Team AOC honors and respects working people. You should try it sometime instead of union-busting,” she wrote in reply. 

She later added that the proceeds from the sales went towards one of her programmes which helped tutor children whose learning was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

AOC followed up with a series of tweets pointing out that her Twitter notifications weren’t working because she had “gotten under a certain billionaire’s skin”. 

The next day, she again tweeted saying that her notifications were still not working and insinuated that her app had been bricked because she had told Musk “something you don’t like.” She added towards the end of her tweet, “Doesn’t seem very free speechy to me.”

Since Musk took over Twitter on October 27, he has already made some sweeping changes. Immediately after taking over, he fired CEO Parag Agarwal, CFO Ned Segal, General Council Sean Edgett and Head of Policy, Legal and Trust Vijaya Gadde.