Vice President Kamala Harris is getting slammed on social media for sharing a photo of herself and second gentleman Doug Emhoff cooking in their kitchen — on a gas stove, no less.
It provoked a firestorm of criticism given the Biden administration’s recent consideration of banning gas stoves.
Earlier this year, the Biden Consumer Product Safety Commission floated the idea of getting rid of gas stoves in a bid to reduce carbon emissions. However, when the public caught wind of the proposal, the White House was forced to dismiss it amid widespread backlash.
Despite the administration’s public stance, some critics argue that the optics of Harris cooking on a gas stove in her own home send the wrong message to the American people. One such person is Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who took to social media to snarkily question Harris’s use of a gas range.
“Is that another gas stove?” Collins posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to Harris’s cheery Christmas greeting.
The controversy comes at a time when the Biden administration is grappling with the urgent issue of climate change. With the United States aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030, the debate over gas stoves has become a point of contention.
In recent years, electric stoves have gained popularity as a more eco-friendly alternative to gas ranges. Proponents argue that electric stoves produce fewer harmful emissions and can be powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
However, some Americans remain loyal to their gas stoves, citing factors such as cooking speed and reliability. In addition, many low-income households lack access to electric stoves due to the high cost of installation and maintenance.
Despite the debate, one thing is clear: Vice President Harris’s holiday cooking has ignited a heated conversation around the future of gas stoves in American homes. Whether or not gas ranges will continue to be a fixture in kitchens across the nation remains to be seen, but for now, they’re still very much in use — even in the homes of top government officials.
