Fox News’ Gutfeld! ran a segment Monday mocking a now-viral clip of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sampling a Somali dish, with panelist Tyrus calling it a classic example of politicians doing things they don’t need to do. The short video captures Frey smiling through an awkward bite while supporters cheer, and the moment has been used as fodder for late-night satire and conservative commentary.
The clip itself exploded across social platforms over the weekend as users turned stills into memes and critics called the stunt performative virtue signaling. Coverage from both mainstream and niche outlets shows a torrent of ridicule and bewilderment, with many social accounts framing the mayor’s reaction as more about optics than genuine cultural engagement.
This episode didn’t happen in a vacuum; it arrived amid heightened debate over Somali immigration, allegations of welfare and benefits fraud in parts of Minnesota, and a broader national argument over enforcement and cultural integration. Opponents argue Mayor Frey’s PR move comes while serious questions about law, order, and public accountability go unanswered, turning real policy fights into photo ops.
Conservative observers are right to call out the theater. When local leaders substitute symbolism for solutions—staged meals and scripted smiles—instead of cracking down on fraud, improving public safety, and enforcing immigration laws, constituents suffer the consequences while activists get a feel-good headline.
Worse, these kinds of stunts reinforce the suspicion that elites care more about keeping a narrative alive than governing responsibly. If the goal was to build trust across communities, empty gestures won’t work; transparency, enforcement, and equal application of the law will.
If voters want real progress they should demand accountability and practical policies, not viral clips and virtue-signaling spectacles. City hall needs officials focused on tangible outcomes, not on producing content for late-night panels, and that’s the sort of leadership voters should expect and insist upon.
