Ivanka Trump has been slammed as tone-deaf for posting about her food business as millions of Americans face SNAP cuts during the ongoing government shutdown.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits to more than 40 million low-income Americans to help them buy groceries.
With the federal government shutdown – now the longest in U.S. history – the Department of Agriculture said it did not have enough cash to fund benefits in November.
Highlights
- Ivanka Trump was criticized for promoting her food business while millions face SNAP cuts amid the longest federal government shutdown.
- SNAP benefits for over 40 million low-income Americans faced funding delays due to the government shutdown and the Trump administration's resistance.
- A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits by November, calling further delays unacceptable.
Ivanka Trump has been branded tone-deaf for her latest social media post
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President Donald Trump announced his intention to defy a court order to pay out the benefit, which led to him being rapped by District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. on Thursday.
The Trump administration has now been ordered to fully fund SNAP by Friday for the entire month of November.
Ivanka, Trump’s oldest daughter, had posted on her Instagram amid all of this on Wednesday, touting her food waste company Planet Harvest.
“If food drives disease, food must be part of the cure, and if food is medicine, farmers are healthcare providers!” Ivanka wrote as she posted about her attendance at the Think Health Summit in Bentonville.
Her post to over eight million followers was swiftly criticized as tone-deaf, given the SNAP cuts affecting millions of Americans.
“Quite tone deaf as so many Americans are fearing not knowing where their next wholesome meal is coming from. Please consider picking up THAT banner,” one person wrote.
Another added: “I guess your family's logic is if food drives disease, then let’s make sure people can’t afford food. Problem solved. Shameful family!”
Americans are experiencing the longest government shutdown in history
Image credits: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
“Wild post when your actual father is forcing people into situations of food insecurity,” a third commented.
While another mentioned Trump, writing, “How about ensuring healthcare for them??? Tell dad…”
While the administration has been ordered to pay out SNAP benefits this month, some families are expected to go without until the funding reaches them.
"People have gone without for too long, not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable," Judge McConnell said.
Lawyers for the Department of Justice have filed an intent to appeal the order.
In a statement after the ruling, Vice President JD Vance described being told to fund benefits for struggling Americans as “absurd.”
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"It's an absurd ruling, because you have a federal judge effectively telling us what we have to do in the midst of a Democrat government shutdown,” he said.
"In the midst of a shutdown, we can't have a federal court telling the president how he has to triage the situation.”
This week, the U.S. surpassed the previous record for the longest federal government shutdown in history, with operations stalled for 38 days so far.
Democrats are refusing to support a funding bill to reopen the government unless Affordable Care Act subsidies, due to expire this year, are extended.
Republicans have refused the demand and say the party will only negotiate once the government reopens, frequently repeating a false claim that Democrats want undocumented immigrants to receive free healthcare.