Social media users made #BareShelvesBiden trend near the top of Twitter on Sunday as they vented frustration over supply chain issues that continue to impact many U.S. consumers.
“The Biden administration has caught flak in recent months for the supply chain crisis and rising inflation that have interrupted Americans’ everyday lives,” Fox News reported. “Yet White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and liberal media pundits have suggested the concurrent economic issues have been overblown.”
The hashtag, which went as high as the #6 trend on Twitter, featured users tweeting out photographs of empty shelves at stores across the U.S.
Right before the hashtag went viral, a few journalists and congressional staffers tweeted out photographs of empty shelves at stores.
Kayla Tausche, Senior White House correspondent at CNBC, tweeted: “Apocalypse now.”
Apocalypse now pic.twitter.com/j48ALuYtoQ
— Kayla Tausche (@kaylatausche) January 9, 2022
Mark Bednar, a top staffer for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, tweeted: “Grocery store in DC. Wonder when @SecretaryPete will AGAIN simultaneously declare it’s a private sector problem & say the only remedy is Democrats’ multi-trillion dollar, big-government socialist bill.”
Wonder when @SecretaryPete will AGAIN simultaneously declare it's a private sector problem & say the only remedy is Democrats' multi-trillion dollar, big-government socialist bill. 🤔
— Mark Bednar (@MarkBednar) January 9, 2022
Matthew Foldi, reporter at The Washington Free Beacon, tweeted: “The [mainstream media] has completely memory holed the ongoing supply chain crisis. From North Texas Starbucks today.”
The msm has completely memory holed the ongoing supply chain crisis
From North Texas Starbucks today pic.twitter.com/tMafpaMCyz
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) January 9, 2022
Foldi later added: “Similarly, our local Super @GiantFood in Maryland is full of empty shelves today Supply chain crisis continuing into 2022 Where is @SecretaryPete?”
Similarly, our local Super @GiantFood in Maryland is full of empty shelves today
Supply chain crisis continuing into 2022
Where is @SecretaryPete? https://t.co/MNhTb5YC2k pic.twitter.com/FoGohlA8v8
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) January 9, 2022
Jon Levine, reporter at the New York Post, tweeted: “ShopRite in Clark, New Jersey this evening. (Photo from a friend, reposted with permission).”
ShopRite in Clark, New Jersey this evening
(Photo from a friend, reposted with permission) pic.twitter.com/p7XfNPzdxx
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) January 10, 2022
By that point, users got #BareShelvesBiden trending.
“I’ve received 8 messages & counting from my very polite @Instacart shopper over the last 10 minutes about missing items in the Cascade Rd @Publix,” Atlanta Democrat Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tweeted. “I shopped in Buckhead & Vinings last week and no one else seems to have the supply chain issues we’re experiencing in SW Atlanta.”
Jack Posobiec, Senior Editor at Human Events, responded: “Even Keisha Bottoms is feeling it! #BareShelvesBiden.”
Even Keisha Bottoms is feeling it! #BareShelvesBiden https://t.co/HjUrr7rLSf
— Jack Posobiec 🍊 (@JackPosobiec) January 9, 2022
Molly Jenkins, Communications Director for Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA): “Can’t wait to eat…the frozen spinach I had to buy since there is no salad or chicken left at Whole Foods. #BidensAmerica #supplychaincrisis.”
Can’t wait to eat…the frozen spinach I had to buy since there is no salad or chicken left at Whole Foods. #BidensAmerica #supplychaincrisis pic.twitter.com/EOO5Zg9eD1
— Molly Jenkins (@jenks19) January 9, 2022
Other notable tweets that featured the hashtag included:
Jennifer Van Laar, Managing Editor at Red State: “#BareShelvesBiden at Stater Bros in Simi Valley, CA. This was the 2nd store we went to looking for bagels. Found the bagels but zero – ZERO – plain cream cheese. If you want Kraft parmesan cheese or Top Ramen, you’re pretty much out of luck.”
#BareShelvesBiden at Stater Bros in Simi Valley, CA. This was the 2nd store we went to looking for bagels. Found the bagels but zero – ZERO – plain cream cheese. If you want Kraft parmesan cheese or Top Ramen, you're pretty much out of luck. pic.twitter.com/qS7Lx8gRMa
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) January 9, 2022
Christy Lewis, Senate GOP Policy Director: “Harris Teeter in Virginia. #BareShelvesBiden.”
Harris Teeter in Virginia.#BareShelvesBiden pic.twitter.com/EJdl0UY8iW
— Christy Lewis (@Cavalewis) January 9, 2022
Curtis Houck, Managing Editor at NewsBusters: “#BareShelvesBiden in dark blue Oakton, Virginia.”
#BareShelvesBiden in dark blue Oakton, Virginia pic.twitter.com/JM4bXL7CDn
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 10, 2022
“Ships stuck at sea, warehouses overflowing, trucks without drivers: The highly intricate and interconnected global supply chain is in upheaval, with little end in sight,” The New York Times reported in early December. “The turmoil has revealed how the need to ship surgical masks to West Africa from China can have a cascading effect on Ford’s ability to put back-up cameras on its cars at factories in Ohio and delay the arrival of Amazon Prime orders in Florida in time for the holidays.”