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Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders sparked a backlash from conservatives Monday after releasing a campaign ad depicting a young white man as the face of welfare abuse, with critics arguing the portrait was misleading.
The ad, released as Huckabee Sanders runs for re-election based on new social work requirements, follows a fictional character named “Brad,” who is depicted as an able-bodied white man spending his days playing video games, lounging on the couch and avoiding work while relying on taxpayer-funded benefits. Huckabee Sanders argues his proposal would require able-bodied adults without dependents to work, train for jobs or volunteer in order to continue receiving assistance.
“Meet Brad,” Huckabee Sanders begins the commercial. “Brad has made relaxing a full-time career. But you work hard. You pay taxes to cover welfare for guys like Brad who simply choose not to work.”
Huckabee Sanders, who served as President Trump’s White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019, faced backlash from conservatives who criticized the campaign’s execution, arguing that the decision to portray a young white man as the face of welfare abuse did not reflect reality.
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Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders during an interview with Bloomberg Television at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Great policy,” argued The Federalist co-founder and CEO Sean Davis. “A terrible advert, so dishonest and insulting that it will completely overshadow a truly great policy.”
“This is a huge own goal (Sarah Huckabee Sanders), and you should fire the consultants who made this ad,” Will Chamberlain, the lead attorney for the Article III Project, said on X. “Don’t paint your core voting bloc as losers, period.”
“White men are the voting base of the Republican Party and yet they are the group that the Republican Party turns to at every possible opportunity,” replied Matt Walsh of Daily Wire. “Meanwhile, in reality, women are much more likely to be on welfare than men. And black people are astronomically more likely to be on welfare than white people. So the number of young single white male ‘Brads’ abusing the welfare system is tiny.”
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“Attacking young white men (especially Christians) is the most acceptable political tactic in America thanks to the evils of liberalism,” said Caleb Pascoe of the American Principles Project. “It’s amazing how even the majority of Republican politicians feel safe attacking young white men, instead of communicating the truth about welfare, because they might be called ‘racist’ or something.”
“Always a bad white guy in these ads,” another conservative account wrote. “I hate the GOP so much it’s unreal.”
After the initial post was viewed millions of times, Huckabee Sanders followed up with an
“If you’re able-bodied, you shouldn’t be collecting welfare just because you choose not to work. Period. WATCH->,” she continued, inviting conservatives to attack the video again.
“Your ad targeted and mocked the demographic group – young white men – who are least likely to be on welfare and yet most likely to be illegally excluded from the workforce,” Davis added in a follow-up article. “For what?”
“Is this an operation?” » wrote another account.
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A “We Accept (Food Stamps)” sign hangs in the window of a grocery store in Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The unusual reaction from the right also attracted the attention of critics on the left, who took advantage of the intra-conservative conflict over the ad.
Among them was left-wing commentator Keith Olbermann, who mocked what he called the “White Power GOP Party” for attacking Huckabee Sanders over the ad’s depiction of a white welfare recipient.
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Keith Olbermann on “The View” March 25, 2016. (Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“Huck is airing the first honest TV ad from a Republican in 75 years and the White Power GOP is absolutely furious that the social leech shown is a white man named Brad,” Olbermann said amid the backlash.
“Republicans are incredibly furious about this Sarah Huckabee Sanders ad that features a white player as the face of welfare,” Will Sommer, senior reporter for The Bulwark, posted on X.
“Republicans in the comments are furious that Sarah Huckabee Sanders dared to represent a white man on welfare and blamed “Jews,” the far-left media company MeidasTouch posted on X. “The Republican Party has a huge problem with racism and anti-Semitism.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Huckabee Sanders’ team for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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