A debate between Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Troy Jackson has generated multiple clips portraying the Republican senator as struggling, including one that was shared by her own party.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee posted a clip of the debate on X in which Collins touted having tariffs removed from road salt. Jackson responded, “We can't eat road salt.” Road salt and table salt serve different purposes: road salt is used for deicing, while table salt is used as food. The exchange underscored concerns about food and fuel costs in Maine as families face a difficult economy. Jackson argued that Collins had not done enough to address Mainers’ basic needs.

The clip therefore placed a narrow example of tariff relief against broader concerns about household affordability. Republicans nevertheless promoted the video as an “own” against Democrats. That framing confused online observers who viewed the exchange as evidence that the party was out of touch.

“If you, like many, are confused why Senate Republicans would post this pretty good line by Jackson — they are under the impression it's an own, because they think road salt is the same as table salt,” one woman joked on X.

Polling USA asked, “Y'all understand this isn't a win for you, right?”

Politico’s Brian Tashman said on X that the post amounted to a self-own. “NRSC accidentally admits that Trump’s tariffs raise costs,” he wrote.

Progressive policy commentator Scott Moore mocked the exchange, writing, “A line so good I almost liked a hate tweet.”

A Democratic strategist and self-described “radical” centrist known as “The Maine Wonk” wrote, “The MAGA Cult is so out of touch, they don’t realize this isn’t a [win].”

Another Mainer, Anthony Emerson, said, “Even the NRSC can't spin this debate demolition.”

“The absolute best part of this is the Senate Republicans posting the clip of their own senator getting absolutely bodied thinking it was somehow good for her,” another user wrote. A separate post asked, “Brother why would you post this.”

An account with more than 61,000 followers ridiculed the post, writing, “While Dem [communications] staffers may occasionally butcher a sports analogy Republican [communications] staffers have to be reminded not to eat rocks.”

A Utah digital organizer commented, “Regardless of everything else crazy about them posting this, it's always so funny when Republicans treat sparing individual items from the Trump tariffs as an 'affordability win.' It's a real 'we're all trying to find the guy who did this' moment every time.”

Collins’ comment came after several public missteps by members of President Donald Trump’s billionaire Cabinet. Dr. Mehmet Oz drew criticism from Fox News after appearing to claim that butter cost only about a dollar. Laura Ingraham fact-checked him during the appearance.

Vice President JD Vance also dismissed affordability concerns several months ago by saying groceries “cost what they cost.” In September, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described rising borrowing costs and higher interest rates as “a growth story,” according to Politico. He also said energy prices would eventually fall: “I don’t know whether it’s today, tomorrow or next week.”