Rep Troy Nehls had a Marie Antoinette moment Tuesday on Capitol Hill, but his tone-deaf comment referenced lobster tails and ribeyes, not cake.

Reporters asked the Texas Republican how his party might make the case that they are “fighting for affordability” when they meet their constituents.

Although a savvy politician would offer a soothing soundbite, Nehls apparently missed that session of Politics 101.

Instead, he went on a tangent about his own July 4th goals that sounded like the 2026 version of “let them eat cake,” a comment attributed to Antoinette at the height of the French Revolution (though one she most likely never said).

“Affordability? What are you talking about?” he spouted. “I’m gonna go there tomorrow. ... I’m gonna get me a couple of big lobster tails. I’m gonna get me some nice ribeyes.”

Nehls then explained that he planned to gorge on the fancy foods while “celebrating the greatest president in my lifetime, Donald J. Trump,” and insisted the current increase in energy costs is “temporary.”

A reporter then asked if the “60% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck can also afford lobster tails and ribeyes and all of that,” and Nehls gave a response that was straight out of a campaign ad ― for the Democrats.

“Maybe not. Maybe the 60% of Americans don’t work as hard as I do either. I mean, I don’t know,” Nehls said.

Yes, there’s video, but, amazingly, Nehls wasn’t wearing a top hat and monocle.

PabloReports: How do House Republicans make the case that you're fighting for affordability when you go back to your districts?Nehls: Affordability? What are you talking about? I'm gonna go there tomorrow. I'm gonna get me a couple of big lobster tails. I'm gonna get me some… pic.twitter.com/mFenNE9m6x

HuffPost reached out to Nehl’s office for comment, but no one immediately responded.

Not surprisingly, Nehls’ empathy-free comments were mocked on social media.

Wow https://t.co/dLlChl4LCM

Dems should turn this into an ad https://t.co/9xG4Vv42D8

The Republican affordability plan: https://t.co/OyQRq9tvar pic.twitter.com/9gGptii6HO

I don't find the lobster and steak comment as offensive as the dismissive comment about people who are struggling with affordability not working as hard as he does. Congress is so out of touch with reality. https://t.co/KKIB6fyWOV

He actually says "Maybe the 60% of Americans don't work as hard as I do." Might be the most tone-deaf thing I've heard a politician say. https://t.co/D0WMZJbPmK

The best way to tell that affordability is becoming an issue now more associated with the left is the right is mocking it. https://t.co/DzjvrOXnA1

I guar-an-goddamn-tee you most working Americans work harder than this blowhard, and they aren't eating ribeye and lobster tails for dinner tonight.@RepTroyNehls https://t.co/qwtvRySRjr

He’s literally just saying fuck you to the entire country. https://t.co/FSp2hDb8my

My friend and candidate for Texas CD-22 @mgreenescott has the most amazing campaign material to choose from. 💙 https://t.co/5Cpd0ZZKCw

Nehls was on a roll Tuesday as far as bizarre comments go.

During his interview on the Capitol steps, he also called for a 10-year moratorium that would include “a big bedsheet” over the Statue of Liberty to cover up that pesky immigrant-friendly message.

“We gotta put a bedsheet ― a big bedsheet ― over the Statue of Liberty,” he said. “She’s gotta go to sleep for a while ’cause we’re not letting anybody in anymore.”

Nehls: You have to love our country. This is what we gotta do. We gotta put a big bed sheet over the Statue of Liberty. 10 year moratorium on immigration. She gotta go to sleep for a while. I'm not saying she's dead. Instead of having a torch, maybe it needs a stop sign.… pic.twitter.com/XL5lLXtgsB

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