WASHINGTON — Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) told Americans worried about the rising cost of food to "stop whining" and "get a job," injecting himself into a viral debate over a $20 burrito. Crenshaw made the remarks in an X post Wednesday night, drawing immediate criticism.
"Just hearing about this dumb $20 burrito debate so just thought I'd make the losers on social media angry before going to bed," Crenshaw wrote. He advised those struggling with food prices to "eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with 4 roommates."
Crenshaw doubled down Thursday, reiterating his position as the backlash grew.
The episode exposed a fault line inside the Republican Party over how to address voter frustration with daily living costs. The debate has gained traction as inflation remains a top concern for households nationwide.
Some Republicans, including Crenshaw, frame high prices as a matter of individual responsibility. Others in the party argue for systemic solutions — a divide that risks scrambling the GOP's economic message ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Vice President JD Vance has also weighed in on affordability issues, signaling the topic's prominence inside the administration.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle face pressure to show voters tangible answers to rising prices, not just rhetoric.
