Vice President Kamala Harris faced social media backlash after sharing a Thanksgiving post featuring her and second husband Doug Emhoff posing next to a gas stove, triggering criticism given the Biden administration’s earlier proposal to ban gas stoves.
The post, captioned “From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving,” drew attention from conservatives who pointed out the apparent contradiction.
From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/Nhifx0sHi5
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 23, 2023
Among those questioning the post, Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., responded, “Is that a gas stove?” Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and America First activist Laura Loomer also joined the conversation, highlighting the perceived inconsistency in light of the administration’s stance on gas stoves.
Kamala Harris takes Thanksgiving pic in front of gas stove as Biden admin moves to ban them. Rules for thee but not for me. What a hypocrite. pic.twitter.com/Wdt6LhjgBj
— PAMELA HENSLEY🇺🇸 (@PamelaHensley22) November 24, 2023
The Biden administration had previously considered a ban on gas stoves over health concerns, with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s top leader, Richard Trumka Jr., stating that “a ban on gas stoves is on the table.” Although the idea of a ban on existing stoves was later discarded, a proposed Department of Energy (DOE) regulation aimed to impose stringent energy efficiency standards for new gas stoves.
In March, the House of Representatives approved an amendment, with bipartisan support, preventing the DOE from implementing strict regulations that most stoves on the market would not meet. The vote, 251 to 181, saw 29 Democrats aligning with the GOP on this issue.
This controversy highlights the ongoing tension between environmental policy goals and the practical considerations of households, as approximately 38% of American households, or roughly 40 million, rely on natural gas for cooking. Despite these concerns and the social media criticism, neither the White House nor the vice president’s office responded to requests for comment on the matter.
