With SNAP benefits set to halt, Thune says he can't clarify Trump's plan to fund program

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

October 29, 2025, 5:01 PM


With critical food assistance benefits set to run out in just a few days, Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Wednesday weighed in on President Donald Trump's comment that his administration may find a solution to help fund the program, as lawmakers appear sympathetic, but still entrenched.

The Department of Agriculture said earlier this week that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which serve roughly 42 million low-income Americans, will not be issued on Nov. 1 amid the ongoing government shutdown. On Tuesday night as he traveled to South Korea, Trump signaled his administration may find a solution to help fund SNAP, saying "we’re going to get it done," without offering any details on how.

At the same time, Trump blamed Democrats for putting Americans at risk of losing critical federal food assistance this weekend."The Democrats have caused the problem on food stamps ... because all they have to do is sign, and, you know, they sign, I'll meet with them,” Trump said.

Asked about Trump's SNAP benefits comments, Thune told reporters on Wednesday that he spoke to Trump on Tuesday, but didn't have insight into what his comments meant. "I think that what he is saying consistently is 'Open up the government and then we' -- and that's the way to fund SNAP," Thune said.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/snap-benefits-set-halt-thune-clarify-trumps-plan/story?id=126980773

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The GOP intends on gutting the Farm Bill nutrition programs like SNAP eventually, so their "concern" is all lip service.

[Deminpenn]

1. Dear Sen Thune, your party controls all 3 branches of govt

You can "open up" the government any time you want by simply changing the rule on the legislative fillibuster. Since you only need 50 votes plus Vance, you can even give 3 Rs a pass to vote Nay.

That is the message Dems need to send every time Rs try to blame them for the shutdown. Rs are also responsible for their complete lack of credibiliy which is why "open now, negotiate later" isn't flying with Dems.

[Irish_Dem]

2. A true failure of leadership. They work for themselves and the sadists in charge.

Their salaries come from WE THE PEOPLE.

They work for Americans.

[Ray Bruns]

3. You can't clarify what doesn't exist.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Surely this will get done before election day, like tonight, Friday, Saturday, Monday.

Wednesday it can be rescinded because it was fluff all along.

[Bengus81]

5. Trump's comment that they "may" find a solution. Yeah...in two weeks,in two more weeks blah,blah

We're on year TEN of waiting to see Trump unveil his health care plan to replace the ACA.

[turbinetree]

6. Hey Thune what exactly is your job description .............to ask a traitor for permission to ask a question..........

and you get paid to do what..................you and your maga team might as well take one's thumb insert it in ones ass and twirl............in fact do it live on tv....................and then tell everyone to go eat cake...............

[Fil1957]

7. They have 2 options that do not require Democratic support: Suspend the filibuster, which requires only 51 votes,

or use the SNAP Contingency Reserve fund.

The fund was created for exactly this kind of situation. That they won't use it is analogous to having a flat tire with a spare, but not using the spare and just continuing to drive and damaging the car. This is only done if the driver WANTS to damage the car. Not using the fund or suspending the filibuster means Magas WANT people to go hungry.

[maxsolomon]

8. "I think that what he is saying consistently is..."

LOL, Thune. His inconsistency is his only consistency.

He's also INCONSTANT and INCONTINENT.

[cstanleytech]

9. They want to drive the remaining independent farmers into bankruptcy so corporations can buy them out cheap.

[Initech]

10. We can't fund SNAP, but we can fund a fascist coup in Argentina.

Make it make fucking sense.

[GreenWave]

11. How about using that tariff money?

[PuraVidaDreamin]

12. Thune in Moscow... Bet there's some

ugly porno photos of him with some
honey pot somewhere.

[BidenRocks]

13. We Don't Trust You!

You give up food aid so people can die of preventable disease!

Piss Off!

[Cherrycheeks]

14. I watched Thune for decades.

Standing behind Mitch McConnell as I always wondered..what in the was thinking. Thune...Who in the hell are you screaming at!!!😠 Mitch the 2nd!