Trump Vows to Withhold ‘SNAP BENEFITS’ Until Government Is Reopened

(AP Photo/John McDonnell)

President Donald Trump warned Tuesday he will not allow federal food benefits to be paid until the government reopens in a hardened position that puts millions of low-income households directly in the political blast zone.

Two federal courts only last week ruled that the administration must pay at least partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. SNAP supports roughly 42 million Americans, and the majority are children or people over 60.

Taking to Truth Social on Tuesday, the president wrote:

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

(Screengrab via Truth Social)

If it comes to pass, the move will mark the first time a government shutdown has disrupted the flow of SNAP payments. The program is one of the few cross-partisan anti-poverty lifelines that, until now, has been immunized from the effects of shutdowns.

Yet Trump, while telegraphing that the legal rulings won’t stand in his way, is indicating that he intends to tie food support to his fight with congressional Democrats in a bid to force a concession amid the current standoff.

The White House has not yet addressed the contradiction between Trump’s declaration and the court orders already in place.