‘They’re Using These People as Hostages!’ Chuck Schumer Loses it Over Pro-Trump Reporter’s Question On SNAP Funding
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was visibly riled up by a question from a reporter at a right-leaning outlet on Tuesday, snapping at the reporter that Republicans were treating American citizens as “hostages” over what he said is the GOP’s refusal to fund SNAP benefits.
The fiery back-and-forth happened during a press conference featuring Schumer and other top Dems. The Daily Caller congressional reporter Andi Shae Napier was not able to finish her question before the Senate minority leader started yelling back at here.
“Irrespective of the dispute on whether USDA contingency funds can be continued to be used for SNAP benefits—” Napier started saying.
Schumer jumped in: “It is not — wait a minute! excuse me, it is not a dispute! It is fact they can use it, and the Republicans say it.”
Napier, unfazed, continued to try and ask her question: “Okay, but there is only $5 billion-$6 billion, and SNAP costs $8 billion monthly just to administer. If anything, it would only last—”
Schumer cut her off again and said Republicans would rather fund their own projects than pay for hungry food stamp recipients.
“It does not cost $5 billion-$6 billion to administer. There’s enough money to start feeding people right away,” Schumer said. “$6 billion is a lot of money and they’re using it for other things — $20 billion for Argentina, hundreds of millions for Kristi Noem’s plane. who are we kidding here?”
“What happens once it runs out? If it only lasts two-three weeks, would Democrats fold then?” Napier asked.
“The bottom line is, they can fund it just as in 2019, just as in other shutdowns, for a long period of time,” Schumer said, before smacking the podium with his palms.
He then let Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who was flanking him, step forward and rip Republicans for a moment.
Klobuchar said the $6 billion would at least cover nearly a month of SNAP benefits, and then at that point, she said congressional Dems were ready to support legislation from Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) or Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) to provide more coverage.
“The House isn’t here to pass it,” Klobuchar said. “They would probably have to vote on the Epstein Files, but they’re choosing to let kids go hungry, instead of having to vote on the Epstein Files. There’s no doubt about it.”
Schumer then stepped back to the mic to rip House Leader Mike Johnson (R-LA), with Schumer saying Johnson “just lies” about everything, including illegal immigrants receiving government benefits.
When Napier then asked if Schumer was saying Democrats have “no responsibility” for the shutdown, Schumer fumed one more time:
“We are saying the Republicans can fund it now and they’re using these people as hostages! Plain and simple!”
Watch above, via The Daily Caller’s X account.
