The US agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, is facing ridicule from congressional Democrats after claiming Americans can save money by eating a meal of chicken, broccoli, a corn tortilla and 'one other thing' for around $3. The remarks were made during a NewsNation interview about the cost of adapting to new dietary guidelines.
Rollins said the department had run over 1,000 simulations showing such a meal could cost about $3, and that food prices were coming down. However, consumer price index data cited by the host showed grocery prices rose 0.7% in December, the largest monthly increase since October 2022.
Democrats seized on the comments. The House Ways and Means Committee Democrats shared an AI-generated image of a tray with a small piece of chicken, a lone broccoli floret, a tiny tortilla and a foil-wrapped 'mystery item'. Representative Ted Lieu posted a similar photo, while Senator Sheldon Whitehouse quipped that the 'one other thing' might be 'wondering why costs have gone up so much under Trump'.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal called the advice 'a slap in the face to struggling working families'. Senator Ed Markey said the administration is 'completely out of touch' with the challenges families face. The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about grocery affordability under the Trump administration.
