Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer aimed to enjoy a classic Father’s Day barbecue, but he found himself under fire from social media critics questioning his grilling expertise.

The New York Democrat shared a cheerful photo on X, showing him at a grill laden with burger patties and hot dogs and beaming with happiness.

“For years, our family has lived in an apartment building,” Mr. Schumer posted. “But now that my daughter and her wife have bought a house with a backyard, we’re having our first barbecue with hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill! Father’s Day bliss!”

But it didn’t take long for online commenters to scrutinize the New York senator’s grilling technique, particularly focusing on whether he had placed cheese on a burger patty too early in the cooking process.

“Chuck. I love you man, but you put the cheese on AFTER the burger is cooked,” one saucy user said.

“Might want to cook that burger longer, Chuck,” another wrote, the New York Post reported.

Ex-National Republican Senatorial Committee official Matt Whitlock posted a gif of actor Steve Carell slinking away with a funny face, adding: “Seeing that piece of cheese on a raw patty.”

But others came to Mr. Schumer’s defense, with one writing, “Calm down people, it is not raw/cold, it is a veggie burger patty underneath a slice of tofu.”

“Chuck Schumer is actually doing better than me,” another user posted. “Today, my grill had a grease fire and destroyed my Father’s Day ribeye. Yay!”

Mr. Schumer later deleted the post and photo but left up his Father’s Day message.

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