Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) on Thursday stood by his controversial social media post telling Americans worried about high food prices to “stop whining” and “get a job,” as a viral debate over the cost of a $20 burrito laid bare tensions within the GOP over how to talk about affordability.
The outgoing congressman, who lost his primary earlier this year, waded into the fray late Wednesday with a sarcastic post on X, writing, “Just hearing about this dumb $20 burrito debate so just thought I’d make the losers on social media angry before going to bed.” He added: “Stop whining, get a job, eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with 4 roommates. The market doesn’t care what you think something ‘should’ cost.”
After his comment section lit up with criticism, Crenshaw issued a follow-up post that began with a mock apology: “Okay, I am SORRY for triggering the comment section.” He then pivoted to a broader point, suggesting that the outrage over a $20 burrito was emblematic of a left-wing “victimhood” mindset. “Remember when the right had principles and made fun of leftists for elevating victimhood as a virtue? Want to tell people the truth? Or just bribe them for their vote in the next election?” he wrote.
The exchange marks a notable reversal for Crenshaw, who in 2021 mocked the Biden administration for advising Americans to eat less take-out beef and poultry to ease inflation. At the time, he posted: “America: our food prices are too high what are you doing about inflation? Biden admin: just be vegan and stop complaining you bunch of rubes.”
The burrito controversy began earlier this week when Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet shared a conversation with a college student who complained, “A burrito shouldn’t cost $20.” Kolvet framed the remark as a symptom of lingering post-pandemic inflation, writing online, “A lot of this is a hangover from Covid and Biden-era inflation, but the lived experience is the same: It just feels like basic things cost too much.”
The debate quickly drew in Vice President Vance, who responded to Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen’s dismissive take that “the burritos in the college cafeteria are included in your meal plan.” Vance shot back with a jab at Thiessen’s physique: “I’m surprised to hear Mark say this. If you’ve ever met him in person, it’s quite obvious the man has never missed a burrito.”
Kolvet later told NewsNation’s “On Balance” that he “had no idea” his comments would ignite such a firestorm, but warned that Republicans risk repeating the mistakes of former President Biden by dismissing voters’ economic anxieties. “I think it’s political malfeasance to ignore and deny the actual anxieties of voters, especially young voters,” he said.
The spat underscores a broader GOP debate over messaging on inflation and affordability, with some lawmakers pushing for a more empathetic approach to voters’ pocketbook concerns while others, like Crenshaw, advocate a tougher, self-reliance-driven line. The episode also highlights how social media can amplify intra-party divisions on economic policy, a dynamic that could shape the party’s platform heading into the next election cycle. For more on how Republicans are navigating these tensions, see our coverage of California food rules and the tightening Texas Senate race.
