David Brooks’ $78 Newark Airport meal gripe that went viral is now a hilarious meme

If you’ve been to an airport and eaten a meal while waiting for your flight, you know that the prices at the restaurants aren’t the cheapest.

New York Times columnist David Brooks decided to make that the issue of the day on Twitter (X) earlier in the week, with a photo showing a sad-looking burger and fries, plus a beverage that looked like it was alcoholic, and declaring: “This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible.”

The post was already getting dunked on, but the owners of the Newark Airport restaurant that served him noted on Facebook that the “bar tab was almost 80 percent” of the meal.

Now, there’s a new meme making fun of this, and it’s quite hilarious:

This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/1qeV9qOBL3

— David Brooks (@nytdavidbrooks) September 21, 2023

This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/zv8cxyqoUr

— Bruce Springsteen! (Blogness) (@blogness) September 21, 2023

Insane that this simple Diet Coke with a whisky double just cost me $1,178 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/W72UALBPYC

— Chris Bakke (@ChrisJBakke) September 22, 2023

I mean, it's one banana at Newark Airport, Michael. What could it cost, $78? pic.twitter.com/5syvAKksHp

— Susan optimistically (@realsusandixon) September 22, 2023

This sandwich cost me $10 at Newark Airport. If I had ordered 4 whiskeys with it, it would’ve cost me $78. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/bvzYb1ErPx

— Jack E. Smith ⚖️ (@7Veritas4) September 22, 2023

This meal cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/UoR6WnoQcl

— derek guy (@dieworkwear) September 21, 2023

$78 at Newark Airport?? Ridiculous! pic.twitter.com/5OUPuJZfep

— Leta McCollough Seletzky, JD 🐳 (@LaSeletzky) September 21, 2023

This meal cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/bTFvggsVj2

— Vinny Thomas (@vinn_ayy) September 21, 2023

This meal just cost me $2,005.23 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/Sgx46OmxHE

— michaelia cash updates (@verynormalman) September 22, 2023