Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appeared on "Fox & Friends" Thursday to address growing criticism from within her own party over a state advertising campaign urging residents to return to work rather than rely on government benefits. The exchange has turned a state workforce campaign into a broader argument over who actually receives government benefits — and how the party talks about them.

The campaign features a young man named "Brad," shown slumped in a beanbag chair playing video games and grabbing snacks with a claw. "He's turned relaxing into a full-time profession," Sanders says in the ad, as the young man reaches into a giant tub of cheese balls.

The spot has drawn backlash from some on the right who argue that young white men are being unfairly portrayed as lazy. Conservative commentator Matt Walsh attacked the ad in a post on X, writing: "This Republican ad calling out welfare leeches uses a young white male named 'Brad' as the villain. Meanwhile, back in reality, women are significantly more likely to be on welfare than men. And Black people are astronomically more likely to be on welfare than white people. So the number of single young white male 'Brads' abusing the welfare system is minuscule. Practically non-existent. But of course Republicans don't have the balls to do this ad with 'Shaniqua' as the villain. Even though that would actually be an accurate portrayal of the problem at hand."

Turning Point USA also objected, calling for what it framed as a real conversation about who is "fleecing welfare."

The criticism sits uneasily with federal data. According to the most recent USDA report — an annual characteristics report on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the largest federal food assistance program — covering fiscal year 2023, white people make up the largest share of welfare recipients, at 43 percent. Some critics argued that women are more likely than men to receive welfare, but as a University of Massachusetts report explained, that is largely because women are disproportionately the ones left to care for children on their own. The disagreement is notable because it is unfolding entirely within the party, rather than across the aisle.

Sanders pushed back against the uproar during her Fox appearance. "Well, I think it is overblown and incredibly manufactured. In Arkansas, we are working hard to make sure that the system isn't being cheated," she said. "We know that there are a variety of different people who, instead of working, are choosing not to and are getting government benefits. That's not how the system was designed."

She noted that Republicans have worked to put requirements in place to demonstrate that recipients are working rather than simply living off government assistance. Such requirements, which tie benefit eligibility to employment or job-search activity, have long been a central focus of Republican welfare.

"Instead of conservatives attacking other conservatives, they should be supporting that policy, not only helping us get that job done but helping get more Republicans elected so we can take it even further and continue to fix a very, broken, system," Sanders said.

She added that she is not bothered by criticism from fellow conservatives, saying she is focused on getting things done.