MAGA candidate roasted after 'embarrassing' flub of California food staple

A MAGA candidate for governor in California was roasted after he misidentified a "street taco" during a campaign stop in Barstow.

Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and a close ally of President Donald Trump's, posted a video on X of him outside a Del Taco restaurant in Barstow after a town hall. In the video, Hilton can be seen holding a taco, which he described as a "Barstow street taco."

“Why am I holding a Barstow street taco right now?” Hilton asked in the video. “Because I just bought it at this historic location.” He pointed upward, and the camera panned to capture the Del Taco sign on Route 66.

Hilton's comments were fiercely ridiculed online by political analysts and observers.

"Absolutely embarrassing," journalist David Lytle posted on Bluesky.

"The first Del Taco was in Yermo, and that’s DEFINITELY not a 'street' taco. Signed, the guy who wrote the book about the history of Mexican food in the United States," Gustavo Arrellano, a columnist for The Los Angeles Times, posted on X.

"You cannot be governor of California if you think a crunchy shell taco is a street taco," Brian Wilcox, a retired social sciences professor, posted on Bluesky. "You cannot be governor of California if you think Del Taco 'street tacos' are street tacos."

"Tough situation," journalist Max Tani posted on X. "On the one hand, huge Del Taco/general taco fumble. On the other, this is an acceptable Mexican food video for a British person, we've seen a lot worse from Brits when it comes to Mexican food."