The White House accused an editor of “shielding” a photo of a fraudster – though the debacle turned out to be a gaffe of the Trump team’s own making.
On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance delivered remarks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the administration’s crackdown on fraud. Displaying a photo on stage, Vance highlighted the case of Markita Barnes, who stole $2.3 million from a Medicaid benefit program meant to help pregnant women and mothers.
Acyn Torabi, an editor at progressive news outlet “MeidasTouch” who often clips videos of administration officials, pointed out on X that the stage lighting created such a glare on the photo that nothing could be seen.
“Vance pointing to a picture obscured by light: Look at this woman,” Torabi wrote.
The White House Rapid Response appeared to misunderstand what had taken place, blasting Torabi on X: “Your dumb a** is shielding a criminal who stole $2.4 million in taxpayer-funded benefits meant to help at-risk pregnant women and women with young kids. She’s spending the next decade in federal prison thanks to this Administration’s relentless work to end the fraud.”
While Vance credited the Trump administration for Barnes’ conviction, the 33-year-old was initially indicted under the Biden administration.
The event at the headquarters of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, a Wisconsin Air National Guard group, was put on by the Trump administration.
The Independent has asked the White House for comment.
The Trump administration is fighting what it says is widespread fraud in programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP food benefits and more.
Vance on Wednesday blamed his political opponents for much of it, accusing them of turning a blind eye to fraud.
“Look at this woman in the front, with a smug look and Louis Vuitton bag. A woman who quite literally stole from young mothers who needed prenatal care,” Vance said on stage.
The vice president added: “You know what? Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil fought against it, and the congressional Democrats they go to work with every single day fought for it.”
The administration has specifically gone after what they say are fraudulent programs in blue-led states such as Minnesota, California, Illinois and New York.
After his speech, Vance took questions from reporters.
When asked what the administration was doing to ensure at-risk pregnant women and women with young children were getting access to care, Vance said the most important way to do that was to cut down on fraud.
“Because money doesn’t grow on trees and there are limited resources,” Vance replied.
