'Bragging about charity negates it': Dean Phillips accused of using the homeless as political props

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Dean Phillips of Minnesota expressed his support for housing, feeding, and education in a recent message on X, stating that if he becomes President, America will prioritize these issues over its military spending.

He noted in his post how he treated a homeless woman who’d approached the congressman, to shrimp fried rice & egg rolls for her Christmas dinner.

People on both sides of the political spectrum slammed Rep Phillips’ attempt at garnering sympathy for his cause especially when there’s no visual proof of it provided on his post, and the whole “feeding the poor” ploy comes off as boasting or making his constituents believe in whatever he says.

The Minnesota congressman decided to challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, launching his 2024 campaign on October 27, in New Hampshire, where he filed to appear on the state's primary ballot.

His latest attempt at using ‘poverty’ and ‘homelessness’ as a tool to further his political ambitions was looked down upon by netizens and during the holiday festivities, it does certainly come off as a mood-dampener.

What did Rep Dean Phillips write in his post?

Congressman Phillips took to X on Monday, December 25, and wrote, “A homeless woman approached me on the street tonight, so I bought shrimp fried rice & egg rolls for her Christmas dinner.”

He then vowed, “When I’m President, an America that spends almost $1 Trillion on its military will finally prioritize housing, feeding, and educating the very citizens it’s defending.”

This post alone might’ve crashed his favorability rankings, seeing how people aren’t keen on choosing someone whose idea of ending mass poverty and homelessness is by a simple act of kindness and hearsay.

Voters expect a sound plan and a bill in effect can be brought by the congressman in the House of Representatives to root out these systemic issues that have been plaguing the country since its inception.

The 54-year-old previously expressed the fact that although he admires the incumbent, 81-year-old Joe Biden, he believes that it’s time for a new generation of Democrats to lead the party, especially with former President Donald Trump poised to potentially be the GOP presidential nominee.

"I think President Biden has done a spectacular job for our country," Phillips said after his presidential nomination filing and added, "But it's not about the past. This is an election about the future."

"I will not sit still and not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we're going to be facing an emergency next November," Phillips told CBS News, alluding to a probable second Trump term as a crisis moment for the American democracy.

Internet slams Dean Phillips for his ‘out-of-taste’ holiday tweet

Mixing holidays with politics to further one’s gains isn’t always a failsafe option judging by the Minnesota congressman’s predicaments post-Christmas.

One X user wrote, “I remember when something similar ACTUALLY HAPPENED. The president didn't tweet about it though. You can do a lot for the homeless as a congressman. I don't know why you're using the homeless as political props."

Another user remarked, "Bragging about charity negates it."

Another user said, ""I'm sorry... I have absolutely no idea who you are." - Everyone."

"This guy: *buys a woman rice once “I think I’ll become President now…” a user quipped.

"Cool, now do this when no one is looking, and you’re not seeking attention," another X user stated

One user tweeted, "Nobody cares about your 20 year plan my guy."

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