Rød Ungdom leader stands by controversial statements after backlash

The leader of Norway’s Rød Ungdom (Red Youth), Alexandra Fredwall, has faced both praise and widespread criticism after a recent interview where she argued for late-term abortion, called NATO a “terrorist organisation,” and advocated abolishing the housing market—but insists she stands by her statements.

The 20-year-old from Kristiansand became a national talking point after a video interview with Nettavisen, where her remarks sparked strong reactions across social media. While she acknowledges the interview was edited in a way she finds “unfortunate,” she maintains her positions.

“I stand by what I said, even though it became unclear and led to many misunderstandings,” Fredwall told Dagbladet.

Political awakening through family struggles

Fredwall describes her upbringing in Kristiansand as stable, despite her parents’ divorce. Though politics weren’t a major topic at home, her family held diverse views—ranging from far-right supporters of the Norway Democrats to her own left-wing activism.

A turning point came when her mother fell ill and fought for disability benefits. Fredwall recalls the bureaucratic hurdles, including disputes with Norway’s welfare agency (NAV), which she says prioritises “milking people’s labour for profit.”

“In Norway today, you almost have to be healthy to get disability benefits. That’s absurd,” she said. The experience led her to Rød Ungdom, whose critiques of the system aligned with her own.

Abortion stance clarified

In a follow-up Facebook post, Fredwall elaborated on her abortion remarks, framing them in the context of severe fetal illness:

“A more realistic scenario is that the child becomes seriously ill late in pregnancy, and the mother must choose between carrying to term or terminating,” she wrote, arguing for access to abortion in such cases.

She rejects accusations of seeking controversy, though she acknowledges her identity—”a trans communist”—naturally draws attention. “My existence creates noise,” she said, but denies actively courting outrage.

NATO and housing market views

Fredwall’s other statements included labelling NATO a “terrorist organisation” and calling for the dismantling of the housing market. While she did not expand on these points in the Dagbladet interview, she reiterated that her core arguments were omitted in the Nettavisen edit.

Dagbladet contacted Nettavisen for comment on Fredwall’s claims about the interview’s editing; their response was not included in the published article.