Jane Han is the North America editor for The Korea Times. Based in Seattle, she has covered business, culture and social issues across the United States for over 15 years. She previously worked at The Boston Globe.
US agriculture secretary hit with ‘let them eat cake’ backlash
A collage shows a screen capture from a television interview with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, left, alongside food images added by Rep. Pramila Jayapal in online mockery of the $3 meal she described. At right is a screen capture from an Instagram post by political influencer Matt Rein reacting to the remarks.
By Jane Han
SEATTLE — A comment by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins about a $3 healthy meal has ignited a storm of online criticism, with detractors comparing the remark to Marie Antoinette’s alleged “let them eat cake.”
Rollins made the comment in a NewsNation interview this week while discussing the Trump administration’s updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans. She said the U.S. Department of Agriculture had run more than 1,000 simulations suggesting it was possible to meet basic nutritional standards at roughly $3 per meal.
As an example, she cited a plate consisting of chicken, broccoli, a corn tortilla and one additional item.
That explanation triggered an immediate backlash.
Across TikTok, Instagram and Reddit, users questioned both the math and the premise of the $3 meal, focusing in particular on what Rollins described as “one other thing.”
“My three-year-old eats more than that,” one TikTok user wrote. Another asked, “Simulation of what? Starvation?” A third zeroed in on the portion size, posting, “One piece of broccoli? Are you kidding?”
On Instagram, commenters questioned how the math could possibly work amid rising grocery prices. “One other thing? Maybe squeeze in one single piece of rice?” one user wrote. Another added, “This is beyond out of touch! Did this lady ever go grocery shopping?”
The remarks also drew attention from late night television. On Late Night with Seth Meyers, host Seth Meyers mocked the claim, asking, “Can that ‘one other thing’ be a meal?”
Reddit threads quickly filled with broader comparisons and sarcasm. “This is a prime example of modern day ‘Let them eat cake,’” one commenter wrote. Another followed with, “Better off telling us to eat cake instead.” Others pointed to everyday costs, with one post reading, “A modest lunch is between $10–$20 now. Nothing fancy, just cheap lunch.”
Much of the anger centered on what critics described as the gap between theoretical models and real grocery shopping. Users cited regional price differences, rising food costs and the challenge of feeding families multiple meals a day.
The backlash continues online, as users keep posting comments that reflect growing frustration over how food affordability is discussed at the federal level.