Remember when Democrats loved railing against “corporate welfare”? Funny thing—Trump Derangement Syndrome hits hard enough and suddenly the very system they denounce is the one they defend, tooth and nail.

Start with the scoreboard. A June Numerator report shows who really cashes in on SNAP: Walmart hoovers up nearly a quarter of all SNAP spending on packaged goods and general merchandise, with Kroger (8%), Costco (6%), and Amazon (5%) trailing behind. A simple Amazon search for “EBT eligible food” turns up plenty of non-essentials—because of course it does. Corporate America says “thank you,” and the Left calls it “compassion.”

It gets better (for the boardrooms, anyway). A 2020 GAO study—commissioned by Sen. Bernie Sanders—found a sizable chunk of Walmart’s own workforce on food stamps. As The Washington Post summarized, Walmart ranked among the top four employers of SNAP and Medicaid recipients in every state; McDonald’s cracked the top five in at least nine states. Sanders blasted the setup as “corporate welfare” built on “starvation wages.” He wasn’t wrong about who benefits. He’d just rather expand the program than trim the dependency.

Today, roughly 42 million Americans receive SNAP. With a government shutdown looming, those benefits are set to freeze in November. Democrats ran to the cameras to declare literal apocalypse. Rep. Melanie Stansbury warned Republicans are going to let “seniors, children, veterans, and millions of Americans starve.” Meanwhile, state-level restriction waivers kick in starting in 2026 to curb purchases of non-essentials like sweetened drinks, candy, and energy drinks. So yes, even the bureaucracy knows the junk-food loopholes exist—shocking, I know.

And the profile of SNAP households isn’t what the talking heads keep selling. Numerator reports that 23% of SNAP households now bring in $80,000+ a year (up 6 points since 2020). Sixty-five percent don’t have children (up 5 points since 2020). The biggest “share of wallet” for SNAP shoppers? Baby products. Next up—at 18%—limited-service restaurants. Translation: a sizable slice of taxpayer assistance flows through drive-thrus and corporate supply chains, not exactly the image you see in the press conferences.

There’s more: a March analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies finds about 59% of illegal-immigrant households use welfare, with 48% using food-related programs (SNAP, WIC, or free/reduced school meals), compared to 25% of native households. But the Left’s priority is to accuse anyone who notices of “cruelty,” then head to Walmart, Amazon, or a fast-food PAC fundraiser.

Here’s the kicker: food stamps were meant as temporary relief in times of genuine need—not a guaranteed revenue stream for big-box retailers and junk-food conglomerates. If Democrats were serious about ending “corporate welfare,” they’d be talking about how to help people move off the rolls and into independence, not staging end-of-days press hits whenever accountability shows up.

The good news? Common sense is still legal. Tighten eligibility, target true need, enforce smart restrictions, and prioritize work and weaning off benefits. You’ll spend less subsidizing corporate margins and more restoring dignity to American families. That’s the kind of reform a pro-worker, pro-family, America-First movement can deliver—no corporate lobby required.