A MAGA supporter complained about not receiving SNAP benefits, and the internet took no time to tear him apart.
The supporter of President Donald Trump wrote on social media that his mother cannot afford Thanksgiving dinner without SNAP benefits, and in typical Republican fashion, blamed the Democrats for it.
The post appeared as the government shutdown entered its 41st day, and as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance has been paused for millions of Americans.
Highlights
- A MAGA supporter blamed Democrats for SNAP benefit pauses affecting his mom's ability to afford Thanksgiving dinner amid a government shutdown.
- Nearly 90% of SNAP recipients are native-born Americans; unauthorized immigrants are ineligible for SNAP benefits, contradicting GOP claims.
- Food banks face huge strain due to SNAP lapses; states like New York and California allocated millions and resources to support food distribution.
A MAGA supporter complained about not receiving SNAP benefits, and the internet was not happy
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The user wrote on Instagram Threads, “Well, since SNAP benefits are going to be paused, that effects my mom’s ability to get Thanksgiving items for Thanksgiving dinner.. does anyone know where we could get a turkey..?”
He continued, “(Thanks alot you scumbag democrats..)”
“Wait, I thought only “illegals” were leeches. YOU are the reason you aren’t getting your SNAP. Do you all EVER research ANYTHING? ” a user responded. “Republicans screw you CONSTANTLY, you believe it, ask for no proof, and you KEEP voting against your own interests due to ignorance. It's clear you never even TRIED to read the bill, bro.”
Image credits: Reddit
Republicans have repeatedly claimed that SNAP benefits are used by illegal immigrants. In its recent ‘MySafeSpace’ page mocking Democrats, the White House wrote, “Hey we’re Democrats in the House and Senate. We love DEl, transgender for everyone, and handing out taxpayer benefits to illegal immigrants.”
In late October, conservative media outlet Newsmax host Rob Finnerty also claimed, “Fifty-nine percent of all illegal aliens are collecting food stamps.”
Image credits: Threads
However, a New York Times fact check using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that nearly 90% of SNAP recipients were indeed native-born American citizens. Unauthorized immigrants, in fact, are ineligible for SNAP benefits.
Another user spelled this out in the comments of the post.
“1. Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House. 2. Democrats are trying to keep your health insurance from skyrocketing in price. 3. Undocumented immigrants DO NOT get free healthcare 4. Speaker Mike Johnson shut down the government to avoid swearing in the final signature needed to release the Epstein files,” the user wrote.
“I hope you can scrounge up some money to have Thanksgiving. Vote better next time.”
Image credits: Reddit
The post soon went viral on Reddit and earned criticism from more people.
One Reddit user wrote sarcastically, “He probably thinks the Democrats are stealing his money and building that new White House ballroom during the shutdown. I bet you could buy a turkey or two with that ballroom money!”
Another user added, “Trump needed the money for his ballroom. Not to mention paying himself $230 million in taxpayer dollars.”
As the shutdown extended and many important governmental policies and agencies incurred financial losses, Trump managed to raise $300 million from private investors to build his 90,000-square-foot ballroom and initiate construction work on it.
Users pointed out Trump's $300 million ballroom in response to the MAGA fan blaming Democrats for the shutdown
Image credits: Eric Lee/Getty Images
“Trump canceled 94 million pounds of food aid to food banks recently,” one Reddit user added. “94 million pounds in food aid to food banks. Yup. That’s the guy they voted for!”
Meanwhile, the legal system has also weighed in. Last week, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP for 42 million Americans, noting the harm caused to those who rely on the program.
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Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered the administration to pay SNAP benefits out of a contingency fund.
However, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused the ruling to allow an appeals court to review the case on Friday.
This comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has a special fund to help supplement the SNAP program in an emergency, appealed the order.
Image credits: Paul Hennessy/Getty Images
Attorney General Pam Bondi argued on X, “A single district court in Rhode Island should not be able to seize center stage in the shutdown, seek to upend political negotiations that could produce swift political solutions for SNAP and other programs, and dictate its own preferences for how scarce federal funds should be spent.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has since ordered U.S. states to stop issuing full food stamp benefits and to “immediately undo” any issuance of the full allotments.
Millions of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, remain uncertain about when they will receive food assistance.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has halted $500 million in food deliveries
Image credits: Jay Janner/Getty Images
Food banks are scrambling to pick up the slack as SNAP benefits lapsed. To add to it, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has halted $500 million in food deliveries, and the shutdown has left federal workers unpaid, increasing the demand for these organizations.
The president and CEO of Houston Food Bank, Brian Greene, described the situation to CNBC as “a rolling disaster.”
Several state and local governments have also stepped in to address the deficit for food banks and pantries.
New York, which has declared a state of emergency, is allocating $65 million to food banks. California has administered $80 million, plus National Guard resources, to support distribution.