Republican Michele Tafoya slammed for telling people to cut back on Starbucks to support Iran war

A sharp rise at the petrol pump is one thing. Telling voters how they should handle it is another matter entirely.

With the cost of filling up climbing again as conflict in the Middle East continues to rattle energy markets, plenty of Americans are already feeling the pressure. For households trying to juggle everyday essentials, any fresh jump in fuel prices lands hard, especially when it comes alongside wider worries about bills, food costs, and the general squeeze on day-to-day life.

That is why comments from Republican Senate hopeful Michele Tafoya have sparked such a fierce response online this week.

Tafoya, who is running in Minnesota after years in sports broadcasting, was discussing what she sees as one of the biggest election issues facing voters when she turned to gas prices and the war in Iran. She said Americans should support the wider war effort and show resilience while prices remain high.

Tafoya’s comments sparked accusations that she was out of touch (payphoto/Getty Images)

It was then that she made the remark that’s now being widely shared across social media.

Speaking on radio station KWAM, Tafoya said: "During past wars, especially World War II, Americans got behind our servicemen and women, and we did little things to show our support for them. We collected metal, you know, we recycled stuff, aluminum, so that we could, you know, help in the war effort."

She then added: "I think right now, at least just kind of keeping a stiff upper lip, maybe take one less trip to Starbucks, and so that gas goes a little further, until this thing is over and these gas prices come back down again, let's just try to be patriots about this."

The Minnesota hopeful faced immediate backlash over her remark (Ethan Miller/Staff/Getty Images)

That Starbucks comparison did not go down well, with social media users piling on, with many arguing the comment badly missed the mood of people already stretched by rising living costs. Responding to the clip being shared on X (formerly Twitter), Seth Taylor — Sandy Springs Co-Chair for Fulton County Democrats, responded: "Read the room, Michele!"

Responding to the same posted video, another user replied: "If only one less trip to Starbucks made the difference in filling your tank."

A third post was even more scathing, saying: "All these rich ghouls talk down to average Americans like they are peasants. ‘Be grateful gas prices are high’, ‘Stop going to Starbucks’. The average American worker is working 50+ hours a week on paycheck to paycheck, and you have millionaires telling them to not have Starbucks."

Noted by Yahoo News, Tafoya had also said: "I know it’s frustrating, and I know it’s hard for people. What I would say to them is we’ve lost some service members over there who have put their lives on the line to protect us, to protect the region, protect America’s friends in the region."

FOODbible has reached out to Michele Tafoya for comment.