Yellen’s “Mushroom” Adventure in China Raises Eyebrows

Clear Facts:

• Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen inadvertently ate a hallucinogenic mushroom dish during her visit to China.
• While some responded to the incident with humor, others criticized or raised concerns about the situation.
• Amidst this, Yellen faced additional scrutiny for a video showing her repeatedly bowing to a Chinese official.

It’s not every day that you hear of a top Biden administration official confessing to having inadvertently consumed hallucinogenic mushrooms during an overseas trip.

That’s precisely what unfolded during Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett.

In a candid confession, Yellen recalled dining on a dish with “magic mushrooms” at a Beijing restaurant earlier this summer.

She said, “The person who had arranged our dinner did the order and there was a delicious mushroom dish. I was not aware that these mushrooms had hallucinogenic properties. I learned that later.”

While some took to social media, making light of the incident with humor and jest, it certainly did not sit well with all.

For instance, NPR correspondent David Gura playfully mentioned how the “effects were transitory.”

On the other side of the spectrum, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) pointedly remarked, “A Biden cabinet member was served hallucinogenic mushrooms in China? Can’t make this stuff up.”

Moreover, Eric Garland, a self-proclaimed geopolitical analyst, warned about the potential intelligence implications, stating, “Intelligence officers use psychedelics to compromise their targets.”

Conservative commentator Steve Guest humorously emphasized the absurdity of the situation by saying, “Joe Biden’s America: The Treasury Secretary gets booked on CNN to talk about shrooming while in China.”

The Republican National Committee’s Jake Schneider added sarcastically, “This is a very serious administration.”

Yellen’s culinary choice at the Beijing restaurant of the Yunnan food chain, Yi Zuo Yi Wang, apparently set off a wave of demand for the wild mushroom dish across China.

CNN reported that Yellen was so taken with the dish that she ordered four portions of jian shou qing, a Yunnan wild mushroom species.

The restaurant was delighted to share Yellen’s preference on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, recounting how it was an “extremely magical day.”

It’s worth noting that while Yellen’s intention in China was to discuss paramount issues like economic competition, national security, and climate finance, a separate video clip drew criticism.

The clip showcased Yellen bowing repeatedly to a Chinese official during her Beijing visit, further casting her trip under a spotlight.

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