Trump blamed for blocking food assistance to low-income families

Let’s put politics aside, as if that were possible, and see how the madness of the last few days has affected people.

A week ago, President Donald Trump announced that 42 million Americans in the SNAP nutrition program would not benefit from the program; This comes as the government shutdown has now reached its 40th day.

This is happening against a backdrop of millions of federal employees who are not being paid while the shutdown continues, many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck.

This took place against the backdrop of Trump hosting a spectacular, Great Gatsby-themed Mar-a-Lago party, where formally dressed guests watched the opera and feasted on blue cheese mousse, sliced ​​sirloin, seared scallops and Trump chocolate cake.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STATES COMMON MISUSE OF SNAP AS FUNDING CUTS DURING THE SHUTDOWN

Meanwhile, a federal judge ordered the administration to restart SNAP benefits, which cost $8.5 billion a month, but the Supreme Court gave Trump time to appeal.

And when at least nine states said they would pay for SNAP benefits during the crisis, Trump ordered them to “immediately roll back” efforts to provide food stamps to low-income families — or face financial penalties.

Let’s see: How does this make the president look?

I hate that word, but what is the purpose of this determined effort to prevent aid from reaching hungry families?

After all, when a wealthy donor, banking and railroad heir Timothy Mellon, offered $130 million to ensure American troops were paid during the shutdown, Trump jumped at the opportunity.

After all, Trump’s tax cut was aimed at the rich.

Ultimately, Trump further reduced capital gains taxes on home sales, which would mostly benefit the wealthy and wealthy, allowing many people to pay zero or a reduced rate on those sales. If you’re not fully aware of this, you probably won’t qualify.

TRUMP ADMIN WARNES 42 MILLION AMERICANS COULD LOSE FOOD STAMPS IF THE SHUTDOWN IS CONTINUED

After all — and this was perhaps the weirdest thing of all — Trump said Obamacare was so terrible that he wanted to send people $2,000 checks so they could buy their own insurance.

So where do they buy it if not from an insurance company? So what do they do if the stock market crashes? There’s a reason why privatization of health insurance isn’t going anywhere.

So coming back to politics (inevitably), how does any of this help Trump?

I get the idea that the Democrats are trying to increase the level of pain so they can end the shutdown on their own terms.

A federal judge ordered the administration to restart SNAP benefits, which cost $8.5 billion a month, but the Supreme Court gave Trump time to appeal. (J. Scott Applewhite, File/AP Photo)

Democrats held out longer than expected, making rising Obamacare premiums a central part of their speeches and fearing that millions would lose coverage unless expiring subsidies were extended.

Regardless, both parties deserve a ton of blame for not keeping the lights on during this endless blame game instead of reaching the compromise we paid them for.

But don’t Trump and J.D. Vance, who called the judge’s decision “ridiculous,” seem to care little about millions of families going hungry or taking food from dumpsters?

Seriously, is there an alternative explanation?

DOJ Accuses FEDERAL JUDGE OF ‘Mocking Separation of Powers’ in SNAP APPEAL

Blaming the other party is in line with the usual political fun and games. But are you doing this during this kind of self-inflicted crisis?

Is there a nine-dimensional chess level where this could help Trump, with the opposition leveling accusations of cruelty?

Trump said former President Joe Biden was “completely crazy” and was giving out food stamps to “anyone who wanted it.” So has this liberalism gone crazy? I decided to do some research.

It turns out there are income limits and those in the program must meet work requirements. Moreover, although there are exemptions for children and refugees, the oft-repeated accusation that illegal immigrants receive SNAP benefits is simply untrue. (Obviously, you can never completely ignore scams.)

Family Dollar Stores Inc. in Chicago on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. “SNAP/EBT Food Stamp Benefits Accepted” appears on the screen inside the store. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

At a time when unemployment has skyrocketed during the pandemic, Congress passed an emergency measure that temporarily suspends the work requirement for non-dependent adults who can find work. This happened during President Trump’s first term in 2020.

In 2023, work requirements for SNAP were increased under a deal with Republicans. This … happened under Biden. Some Republicans, meanwhile, said the measure did not go far enough.

Meanwhile, SNAP participation peaked in the fall of 2017 during the Trump era, which was related to hurricane emergencies.

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Sorry about the green visor thing, but I thought it was worth investigating further.

Most people don’t have the time or interest to dig into the details. They know that not only are they not getting the food assistance they hoped for, but neither are millions of other low-income families. And many hold Trump responsible, especially for his dogged determination to block states from providing aid.