Agriculture Secretary posts 'SNAP fraudster' image days before midterms

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted a photo on X on Saturday depicting a Black man labeled as a "SNAP fraudster" while holding a burning bill. The image appeared against a backdrop of fake Spirit Halloween costume packaging. The post included the caption, "Some costumes come with a price tag. This one comes with a prison sentence."

The timing places the post just days before the midterm elections. It coincides with a federal push to publicize aggressive immigration enforcement and anti-fraud efforts. These initiatives aim to address voter concerns over rising healthcare costs and general economic affordability.

The White House also shared a separate image on X on Thursday. It showed a pumpkin carved with the shape of a sombrero and the text "Spooky szn is here." Critics described the administration's social media strategy as inflammatory rhetoric designed to capitalize on current political tensions.

The photo posted by Rollins appears to be sourced from an Instagram account belonging to Mercedes Reshard New. New, known online as Shawty Dred, was arrested on federal charges in October. Federal prosecutors accused him of fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Georgia.

According to a news release from federal prosecutors on October 21, New controlled more than 350 fraudulent SNAP accounts using stolen identities between January 2020 and July 2026. He allegedly used his company, Shawty Dred LLC, to become an authorized retailer and extracted the funds using EBT debit cards. Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham stated that New used the cash to bankroll a life of luxury, including private jet flights and luxury vehicles.

This is not the first instance of the White House using divisive imagery on official channels. During a government shutdown over a year ago, the White House played a deepfake video of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a fake mustache and sombrero. Jeffries called the meme bigoted. Vice President JD Vance promised the "sombrero memes will stop" once Democrats agreed to end the shutdown.

The current social media push follows a series of recent federal actions. Authorities searched the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar earlier this month as part of an investigation into potential fraud in her family's immigration paperwork. Federal prosecutors have also taken punitive steps in states like California and Minnesota, where governors accused the federal government of targeting them for political reasons. The NAACP, the White House, and Rollins did not respond to requests for comment.

Mercedes Reshard New was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 7 on dozens of counts of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was arrested on October 13 and remains in federal custody. Court records list Joseph Austin as his federal defender. Fulton County jail records indicate New has multiple prior arrests for crimes including identity theft and insurance fraud.