Republican Representative Virginia Foxx faced mockery on social media after she delivered a speech referencing Santa Claus to advocate for whole milk in school meals, saying the beverage is the "unsung hero" of Christmas.
School districts that participate in National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs, must offer milk products that are fat-free or low-fat, which must be 1 percent fat or less. A new bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, aims to allow whole and 2 percent milk in schools.
Foxx's support of the measure on Wednesday quickly went viral on X, formerly Twitter, where numerous users shared posts ridiculing the congresswoman over her Santa speech.
"The nutrients in whole milk like protein, calcium and vitamin D provide the fuel Santa needs to travel the whole globe in one night," the North Carolina Republican said. "Whole milk is the unsung hero of his Christmas journey."
Newsweek reached out to representatives of Foxx via email on Wednesday for comment.
Foxx claimed it's not just the "magic" of the season that helps Santa deliver presents all over the world but also the "fortifying nutrients of whole milk."
"Reflecting on Christmas traditions this year begs the question, if whole milk is a good option to fuel Santa's extraordinary Christmas Eve journey, then why isn't it an option for American schoolchildren in their lunchrooms," she said.
Her Santa references sparked instant ridicule on X, with users sharing a minute-long clip of her Santa speech that amassed nearly 500,000 views in less than three hours after it was posted by journalist Aaron Rupar.
"There's a decent chance she's not kidding about this," Rupar posted with a clip of Foxx's comments.
X user HelisBor ripped House Republicans while sharing a video of Foxx's comments.
"The House GOP is a joke," HelisBor posted. "Here's is MAGA Mike Johnson's mee-maw Virginia Foxx telling America to drink milk because Santa needs milk. #GOPClownShowContinues."
Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of the media outlet MeidasTouch, shared: "I take it back. At least one Republican is a serious legislator."
X account Nurses for A Better Missouri blasted Republicans for talking about "Santa's bone density" instead of more serious issues.
"Republicans went from debate on an Impeachment Inquiry to Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) giving a speech about #Santa & Rudolph drinking whole milk," Nurses4BetterMO posted. "$178k/yr and #Republicans are talking about Santa's bone density instead of the U.S. economy & national security."
Republicans went from debate on an Impeachment Inquiry to Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) giving a speech about #Santa & Rudolph drinking whole milk. 😑
$178k/yr and #Republicans are talking about Santa's bone density instead of the U.S. economy & national security. 🙄
X user Peggy Hughes slammed GOP lawmakers over Foxx's Santa speech, saying: "Republicans keep screaming about the border, immigration, and inflation, so to address those issues they are debating a bill to allow whole milk in schools. Rep. Virginia Foxx R-NC is arguing that Santa needs whole milk."
Republicans keep screaming about the border, immigration, and inflation, so to address those issues they are debating a bill to allow whole milk in schools. Rep. Virginia Foxx R-NC is arguing that Santa needs whole milk.
— Peggy Hughes (@PeggyHu90575113) December 13, 2023Political analyst Sarah Reese Jones mocked Foxx, posting on X: "Rep. Virginia Foxx dealing with only the most pressing issues on the House floor, "Let's end the war on milk."
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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