David Bridges
Key Highlights
- Trump’s Statement: President Donald Trump indicated that SNAP benefits will be contingent on the reopening of the government.
- White House Response: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that the administration is complying with funding requirements for November.
- Funding Details: The government shutdown has affected the full disbursement of SNAP funds, with only partial payments expected.
- Legal Context: A federal judge has ordered the USDA to expedite SNAP funding amidst ongoing legal and political challenges.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has spoken out after a social post shared by President Donald Trump appeared to show him threatening to withhold partial SNAP funds.
RELATED: UPDATE: Federal Judge Orders Trump To Fund And Distribute SNAP Payments, Sets Deadline (VIDEO)
What Did President Donald Trump Post About SNAP Funds?
On Tuesday, November 4, President Trump took to Truth Social to share a potent message with the public.
“SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly ‘handed’ to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT,” he wrote.
Ultimately, the post led some to assume that Trump apparently reneged on his compliance with utilizing partial SNAP contingency funds to supplement recipients for the month of November. Specifically, AXOIS published a report with the headline, “Trump says SNAP will only get paid after shutdown.”
Furthermore, The Hill published a report titled, “Trump says he’s withholding SNAP benefits until shutdown ends.”
How Did White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Respond?
President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post and the subsequent reports prompted the White House to clarify his message. On Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt noted to the press that the Trump administration is “fully complying.” Additionally, she noted that it plans to partially fund SNAP for the month of November.
“The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand it’s going to take time to receive this money because the Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position. We are digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies, catastrophes, for war, and the president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future, and that’s what he was referring to in his Truth Social post,” Leavitt explained.
Ultimately, Leavitt asserted that the “best way to get the full amount of SNAP benefits to beneficiaries is for Democrats to reopen the government… Democrats are holding it up.”
What Is the Current Status of SNAP Funding?
As The Shade Room previously reported, the halt in SNAP benefits was initiated by the government shutdown on October 1. Last week, a federal judge ordered the USDA to disburse funds “as soon as possible.” This, as word loomed that benefits would cease on November 1. Additionally, the Trump administration made it clear it had no plans to step in and use contingency funds to pay for SNAP, per The Shade Room. This, reportedly because it would pull money from other government-funded programs.
Nonetheless, on Monday, November 3, it was reported that the Trump administration would comply with the order. However, instead of the full $9 million funding SNAP usually sees, the administration would only be able to pull about 50% of that amount to fund recipients for the month of November. Additionally, it was noted that it may take anywhere from a day to a few months for recipients to receive the partial funds.
RELATED: UPDATE: Trump Administration To Use SNAP Contingency Fund To Partially Pay For November Food Benefits
What Do You Think Roomies?
Maya Kensington
Cameron Steel
