MAGA influencers accused of shilling for Big Soda

A group of MAGA influencers has been accused of receiving money from soda companies to influence public opinion against a proposed ban on using food stamps for soft drinks. Last week, well-known pro-Trump figures like Ian Miles Cheong and Chad Prather changed their positions on a health initiative led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that aims to restrict food stamp purchases for sodas and junk food. The influencers, who have a large following on social media, expressed sudden opposition to the initiative despite its popularity among conservatives. Cheong stated that he believes the government should not decide what people can eat or drink. Many of these influencers shared similar messages and referenced former President Donald Trump in their posts, which raised suspicions of coordinated efforts. Things escalated when journalist Nick Sortor revealed that these influencers had been paid to promote their views by a PR firm called Influenceable. He posted evidence showing that they shared identical talking points and used templates provided by the company. Sortor pointed out that none of the influencers disclosed that they were compensated for their posts. Some influencers attempted to distance themselves from the situation after Sortor's exposé. Eric Daughtry admitted to being foolish for his posts and deleted them, while Clown World claimed it was not part of a Big Soda campaign. Others, like Riley Gaines, rejected offers to promote the content and expressed concern over the tactics employed by the soda industry. Influenceable was created by conservative influencers who have faced scrutiny in the past for similar activities. Following these revelations, several accounts involved in the campaign began deleting their posts and attempting to clarify their positions on the issue.