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Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has become the latest Democratic politician to face social media mockery over a grilling photo, continuing what appears to be a challenging tradition for politicians attempting to showcase their culinary skills.
The newly elected governor, who made history as Virginia’s first female leader when she was sworn in on January 17, 2026, posted an image of herself on social media platform X, smiling over a grill with what appeared to be shredded meat. The photo, captioned simply “Order up,” immediately drew criticism and jokes from commentators across the political spectrum.
Social media users questioned what type of meat was being prepared, with reactions ranging from curious inquiries to outright disgust. Despite Spanberger wearing an apron emblazoned with “Beef, it’s what’s for dinner,” many commentators expressed confusion about the food’s appearance.
“Ma’am, what is that?” wrote independent journalist Breanna Morello, while Jason Bedrick, a Heritage Foundation research fellow, commented that the preparation “violates the Geneva Convention.” Other reactions included comparisons to missing neighborhood cats and suggestions that the meat had been cut with a “weed wacker.”
The incident follows a pattern of Democratic politicians facing ridicule for their grilling attempts. Conservative commentator Greg Price shared a compilation of similar photos featuring Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, commenting, “I hope Democrat politicians never stop doing photo ops behind a grill.”
Schumer faced particularly intense mockery in 2024 when he posted a Father’s Day image showing burgers on a grill with cheese already placed on uncooked patties. The criticism was so widespread that Schumer eventually deleted the post, which had celebrated his first backyard barbecue experience at his daughter’s new home.
The grilling controversy comes as Spanberger navigates a complex political landscape in Virginia. Though she campaigned as a moderate Democrat, her early executive actions have drawn criticism from conservatives, particularly her decision to end cooperation between Virginia law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This policy shift represents a significant change in Virginia’s approach to immigration enforcement. Former ICE Director Tom Homan has publicly stated he intends to “work around” Spanberger’s executive order, highlighting the tensions between state and federal approaches to immigration policy.
Spanberger has also taken positions critical of the Trump administration, stating that Virginians are concerned about “recklessness coming out of Washington,” further positioning herself in opposition to Republican policies as she begins her gubernatorial term.
The grilling photo incident, while seemingly trivial, reflects the intense scrutiny faced by political figures in the social media age. Even everyday activities like cooking can become fodder for criticism and commentary, particularly when they appear to reinforce stereotypes about politicians being disconnected from common experiences.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the social media reaction to the grilling photo.
As Spanberger continues her historic term as Virginia’s first female governor, the incident serves as a reminder of how personal imagery can sometimes overshadow policy discussions in modern political discourse, and how even the most mundane photo opportunities can become unexpected flashpoints in today’s polarized environment.
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10 Comments
This seems like another example of the political divide, where even mundane activities like grilling get caught up in partisan sniping. While the appearance of the meat is certainly unappetizing, I hope we can move past these kinds of trivial criticisms and focus on the real issues facing the mining, energy, and commodities sectors.
Well said. The mining and energy industries are facing significant challenges around sustainability, technology, and geopolitics. I’d much rather see our leaders engaging with those substantive issues rather than getting bogged down in social media drama.
As someone with an interest in mining and commodities, I have to say I’m more concerned about policies around things like critical mineral supply chains and renewable energy infrastructure than the governor’s grilling abilities. These are the issues that will truly impact the industries I follow, not partisan Twitter spats.
Agreed. The mining, metals, and energy sectors need clear-headed, pragmatic leadership to navigate the complex challenges ahead. Hopefully this incident won’t distract from the real work that needs to be done.
While the governor’s grilling technique may be questionable, I’m more interested in understanding her policy positions on issues like mining regulations, mineral processing, and clean energy deployment. Those are the types of substantive discussions that will actually impact the industries I follow.
Good point. At the end of the day, the governor’s culinary skills aren’t nearly as important as her ability to develop and implement effective policies for the mining, energy, and commodities sectors. I hope we can move past the social media noise and focus on the real issues.
This seems like another example of the tendency to get distracted by political theater rather than focusing on the real policy issues. As someone who follows the mining and commodities space, I’d much rather see our leaders engage with the complex challenges facing those industries, rather than getting bogged down in social media drama over a grilling photo.
Absolutely. The mining, energy, and commodities sectors need serious, substantive leadership to navigate the road ahead. Trivial social media controversies only serve to distract from the real work that needs to be done.
Interesting to see the ongoing debate around politicians’ culinary skills. While the appearance of the grilled meat may be questionable, I’m curious to learn more about the context and intent behind the governor’s post. These types of social media interactions can sometimes overshadow the real policy discussions we should be having.
I agree, the focus should be on the substance of the governor’s policies and governance, not the optics of a grilling photo. Still, it’s an interesting glimpse into the public scrutiny that modern politicians face.