Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger became the latest Democrat to embarrass herself at the grill Thursday.
Spanberger shared a photo from a promotional event hosted by the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association and the Virginia State Dairymen’s Association at the state Capitol in Richmond. In it, she’s wearing a black “BEEF. It’s What’s For Dinner” apron while using tongs to prod at pale, mangled scraps of meat strewn haphazardly across a grill — none of which resemble any recognizable cut of beef. (RELATED: Far-Left ‘Abolish ICE’ Democrat Projected Winner In Major Upset, One Week After Election Day)
Replies flooded in with close-up shots of the pallid, stringy meat. Users asked Grok to identify what Spanberger was cooking. One compared the cuts to a facehugger from “Alien”; others asked if she was grilling rats. Someone posted President Donald Trump’s “they’re eating the dogs” debate clip from 2024.
Order up! 🥩 pic.twitter.com/n69Rhrxt6V
— Governor Abigail Spanberger (@GovernorVA) February 12, 2026
Many noted that botched grill photos have become something of a Democratic tradition. The most infamous example is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s 2024 Father’s Day post showing cheese melted onto a completely raw burger patty. He deleted it within hours.
Spanberger also joins Cal Cunningham, the failed 2020 North Carolina Senate candidate who posted a grill photo captioned “There’s nothing better than BBQ” — except he was grilling, not barbecuing. He went on to lose the race.
The parade of elected Dems who have never touched a grill continues. At least this time they turned the grill on https://t.co/zFRmgpxYuV pic.twitter.com/cHIy4IaCAC
— SwampFox (@SwampFox8) February 13, 2026
“The parade of elected Dems who have never touched a grill continues,” one user wrote, attaching a 2022 photo of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in a white dress, beaming at the camera while brandishing an anemic-looking patty. “At least this time they turned the grill on.”
Spanberger isn’t even the first Democratic Virginia governor to botch a grill photo op. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe posted a video on the eve of Independence Day 2021 wishing viewers a happy Fourth while sporting an American flag shirt and waving an upside-down, spotless spatula.
Happy July 4th, Virginia. This year is extra special. America is back.🇺🇸🇺🇸🍻🍺🌭🍔 pic.twitter.com/VrWKK9viAm
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) July 3, 2021
Behind him: raw sausages and burgers arranged in neat rows on a grill that didn’t appear to be lit.
“A nice old hot dog, sausage, hamburger, beer,” McAuliffe said, hoisting an unopened can of Miller Lite. “That is July Fourth, man.”