On September 7, 2025 Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, publicly claimed that his planned visit to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) headquarters was canceled due to interference from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who criticized the visit on social media. Warner has suggested that Loomer’s influence pressured Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office to nix the classified oversight trip, framing it as a dangerous precedent for congressional authority. However, whispers within D.C. circles reveal a more bizarre and unconfirmed reason: authorities may have stumbled upon a leaked, cringe-worthy video of Warner preparing his infamous tuna melt sandwich, a culinary spectacle so revolting that it reportedly turned stomachs in the Pentagon and prompted a discreet intervention to avoid further embarrassment.

The alleged video, circulating in hushed tones on platforms like X, reportedly shows Warner engaging in a series of unhygienic and peculiar practices—such as using his hands to mash tuna with mayonnaise straight from the jar, adding questionable ingredients like ketchup and crushed potato chips, and licking the spoon mid-preparation—all set to a backdrop of his Virginia kitchen. This grotesque display, if true, could explain why military brass, sensitive to public perception amid ongoing scrutiny of intelligence leaks, might have sought to distance themselves from Warner rather than risk association with such a scandal. While Loomer’s social media campaign provided a convenient scapegoat, insiders suggest the real motive was to sideline Warner until the tuna melt fiasco could be contained, with no official confirmation from the Pentagon fueling the speculation.

The contrast between Warner’s serious allegations of political interference and the absurd undercurrent of a tuna melt controversy has sparked a mix of amusement and outrage online, with some X users dubbing it the “Tuna Gate” scandal. Warner’s office has yet to address the video rumors, sticking to the narrative of Loomer’s influence as the sole reason for the cancellation. Yet, the lack of legacy media coverage from outlets like CNN or NYT—focused instead on trivial stories—only amplifies the underground buzz. Whether the video exists or not, the idea that a senator’s sandwich prep could derail a national security visit highlights the unpredictable nature of modern political optics, leaving the public to wonder if Warner’s culinary habits are the real threat to his credibility.