Linda McMahon spoke on an educational panel this week, where she reportedly mistook artificial intelligence for steak sauce.
While discussing how AI will impact education, McMahon, who is notably the U.S. Secretary of Education, repeatedly referred to AI as “A1,” as in the vinegar-based condiments used on steaks.
McMahon made the gaffe while speaking on a panel at the ASU+GSV Summit, a global annual conference aimed at bringing together leaders to discuss the future of education and workforce skills innovations.
During her speech, the Education Secretary said she knew of ”a school system that's going to start making sure that first graders, or even pre-Ks, have A1 teaching in every year.”
McMahon, who used to be the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment and participated in wrestling skits during matches before President Donald Trump picked her to run the Department of Education, clearly meant to say “AI” but continued to make the same error repeatedly.
"Kids are sponges. They just absorb everything," she added. "It wasn't all that long ago that it was, 'We're going to have internet in our schools!' Now let's see A1 and how can that be helpful.”
While anyone can misspeak, this error makes it sound like the Secretary of Education for the United States of America thinks A1 sauce is the key to children’s success in school.
After McMahon’s blunder went viral, A1’s marketing team seized the opportunity and created an image of a new bottle with the label “For education purposes only” and posted the spoof ad on the company’s Instagram account with the text, “Agree, Best To Start Them Early.”
The brand also captioned the fake ad, “You heard her. Every school should have access to A.1.”
A1’s marketing team wasn’t the only one lining up to laugh at McMahon’s mistake; people on the internet have been dunking on her since yesterday.
Not only were people hilariously using Simpsons gifs to roast her on X (formerly Twitter), but other people critiqued her intelligence, with one person posting, “We’re ruled by the stupidest, most incompetent people in the world,” while someone else wrote that A1 sauce will help student and “the smarter kids can move up to Thousand Island Dressing.”
Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to the Education Secretary proving how much she knows about artificial intelligence!
"Education Secretary Linda McMahon keeps referring to AI as A1 and talking about how it will help "students at all levels." But how can we get those kids to drink it? Linda added, 'The smarter kids can move up to Thousand Island Dressing'"
"Linda McMahon’s brain during this speech:"
"Secretary Of Education Linda McMahon wants A1 steak sauce teaching your kids instead of AI"
"Linda McMahon, the nation's Secretary of Education, promises A1 Steak Sauce in every school!"
"Teach the controversy between A1 Sauce and Artificial Intelligence"
"Everyone should be taught A1 steak sauce in school"
"Ooops U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon referred to AI as 'A1' during discussions on AI in the workforce."
"A1 education of our nation is in good hands. WTAF - they cosplay in every department"
"Donald Trump calls artificial intelligence 'the AI.' Education Secretary Linda McMahon confuses it with steak sauce and calls it 'A1.' Where are all the MAGA folks who were screeching about Biden?"
"Artificial intelligence has disrupted and will continue to disrupt—hopefully for the better—numerous aspects of society. A1 is a steak sauce. The Secretary of Education needs to understand the difference."
"Secretary of education says she heard that first graders will have A1 in school. she went on to say kids are sponges. Why does she think sponges need steak sauce in school?"
"Secretary of Education Linda McMahon referred to AI as 'A1' during an interview. The era of meritocracy is over - the US is now ruled by boomer, sub-80 IQ Trump loyalists."
"Linda McMahon says first graders will begin having "A1" in schools. The problem is—she wasn't talking about the steak sauce. She meant "AI" as in Artificial Intelligence. A reminder that she is the Secretary of *checks notes* Education."
"MAGA Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been seen and heard referring to AI as “A1” steak sauce whilst she’s working to dismantle public education. We are living in the dumbest of times and the stupidity is endless."
"Linda McMahon Just Proved Herself Stupider Than Betsy DeVos"
"I feel like it’s burying the lede here to omit that the secretary of education is Linda McMahon lol"
"In a press conference, Linda McMahon repeatedly said 'A-1' when she meant 'A-I.' You read that right. We have a Secretary of Education who struggles with 'Intelligence.'"
"She’s the idiot who’s in charge of Education. Oh the Irony."
