Cowboys and vegetarians: why American rightwingers see beef as a birthright

Meat and masculinity have been bound together in the US for centuries – and that’s no accident

In April 2021, a Daily Mail article claiming that Joe Biden planned to limit beef consumption to 4lb a year per person to meet environmental targets went viral. Though it was totally false, it sparked a chorus among rightwingers that Democrats “want to take away your hamburgers”.

For many on the right, beef is a hot-button issue.