Trump admin criticized over 'shameful' social posts before midterm elections

The Trump administration is facing renewed criticism over inflammatory social media posts after ratcheting up its anti-immigrant rhetoric and fraud accusations leading up to the midterms.The posts align with a widespread government campaign to highlight aggressive immigration enforcement and efforts to target fraud to save taxpayer money as rising healthcare costs have made economic affordability a primary concern for voters.On Saturday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted a photo on X showing a Black man standing near stacks of U.S. currency under the title "SNAP FRAUDSTER," referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. The man is shown holding up what appears to be a burning banknote.Framed against a backdrop designed to resemble Spirit Halloween costume packaging, the text reads: "Some costumes come with a price tag. This one comes with a prison sentence."“So we’re just doing overt racism now?” one person wrote under the post. A second said: “SHAMEFUL from anyone. Even more shameful from a cabinet member.”Rollins was nominated by Trump to serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in November 2024 (AFP/Getty)A separate photo shared by the White House on X on Thursday displayed a pumpkin carved with the outline of a sombrero and the caption, "Spooky szn is here."“Straight-up racism here, right from The White House, again,” one critic wrote under the post, while a second said, “Wow, another low-effort racist stereotype.”The image posted by Rollins, who was nominated by Trump to serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in November 2024, appears to originate from a September 2025 Instagram post by an account named Shawty Dred.Earlier this month, federal authorities arrested Mercedes Reshard New, a social media personality identified by the Department of Justice as "Shawty Dred," on charges of fraudulently securing more than $4 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds in Georgia.Trump officials revive ‘sombrero memes’It’s the latest instance of official government accounts sharing controversial media online.During the government shutdown just over a year ago, the White House reshared a deepfake video posted by Trump depicting House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in a fake mustache and sombrero to accuse Democrats of acting on behalf of illegal immigrants instead of U.S. citizens. Jeffries criticized the meme as bigoted, while Vice President JD Vance promised that the "sombrero memes will stop" once Democrats agreed to end the shutdown.The Trump administration has escalated its anti-immigrant rhetoric and fraud accusations in recent weeks, including against U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose Washington, D.C., home was searched by federal agents earlier this month. Federal authorities are investigating potential fraud involving her family's immigration documents. Omar, who was born in Somalia, is a naturalized citizen.The administration has also initiated punitive measures over fraud allegations in mostly Democratic-led states, including California and Minnesota, whose governors accused federal authorities of targeting their states for political reasons.The Trump administration has escalated its anti-immigrant rhetoric and fraud accusations in recent weeks (Getty Images)Federal prosecutors said in an Oct. 21 press release that New controlled more than 350 fraudulent SNAP accounts under stolen identities between January 2020 and July 2026. He allegedly applied for his company, Shawty Dred LLC, to become an authorized SNAP retailer and used EBT debit cards to extract roughly $4 million.New’s Instagram account, which has over two million followers, showcased an extravagant lifestyle including private jets, Rolls-Royce vehicles, and large stacks of cash, according to prosecutors."Instead of this money feeding families in need, New, the social media personality known as ‘Shawty Dred,’ allegedly used the cash to bankroll a life of luxury," Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Marlo Graham said in the release.A federal grand jury indicted New on Oct. 7 on dozens of counts of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, along with SNAP fraud and illegal transactions with access devices. He was arrested Oct. 13 and remains in federal custody.Fulton County jail records indicate New has been arrested multiple times on suspicion of offenses including identity theft, insurance fraud, financial transaction card fraud, forgery, and simple assault.Joseph Austin, a federal defender listed in court records as representing New, did not return a phone message seeking comment.