Cardi B Calls Out Trump Over SNAP Delays
Cardi B took to X Spaces on October 18 to call Donald Trump and his administration as the federal government shutdown continues. With funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program, expected to run out in two weeks, the rapper issued a warning about the devastating impact the situation could have on millions of Americans, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner.
“People are complaining that they took food stamps. Remember, Thanksgiving is next month,” said Cardi B of SNAP, which provides monthly benefits to help Americans in need buy groceries.
“No turkey for some of you, very interesting. And I find this so funny because these are the kinds of things I tried to warn you all that would happen in the Trump administration. But you all didn't care. All you care about is that I called them 'Shrunk,'” the rapper continued, referring to her for ridicule calls Trump a name during her 2024 Kamala Harris rally speech in Milwaukee.
Food stamps under threat amid government shutdown.
According to CNNroughly 42 million people could face critical food aid delays in November as the government shutdown continues. It is unclear whether the Trump administration will step in to fund SNAP as it has with other priorities.
The program is projected to run out of money in two weeks, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters at the White House on Thursday, according to CNN. She also posted about the impending challenges on X, blaming the Democrats for “putting free health care for illegal aliens and their political agenda for food security for American families.”
The funding crisis is already forcing 17 states to stop accepting new SNAP applications because their systems would otherwise require combining October partial payments with November benefits. Other states, which may separate the two months, continue to provide October assistance to new enrollees.
Despite her wealth, Cardi B noted that the rising cost of living — fueled in part by Trump's tariffs — has also hit her hard.
“The costs of living have gone up for every damn thing; everything has gone up,” she added. As an example, Cardi pointed to the steep costs she faces when buying imported goods. She explained that if she orders a piece of custom furniture from Italy, Trump-imposed tariffs will add an extra $15,000 to the bill.
“Everything has gone up, from the prices of f-king Fashion Nova and Shein to Chanel and all that because the rates are so f-king expensive!”
SNAP could face further cuts even after the shutdown ends.
Even after the shutdown is resolved, SNAP faces additional threats to its funding because of Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July. The massive tax and spending measure, signed into law on July 4, is expected to drastically reduce the program's budget. The bill will slash about $186 billion from SNAP through 2034, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. Experts warn that these cuts and cost shifts to states will leave millions of Americans without some or all of the help they need to pay for food.
“For decades, SNAP has been there for low-income families, and as a result, we've largely eliminated extreme hunger and malnutrition in this country,” said Katie Bergh, senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. told CNBC's Make It in August. “But that's no guarantee without the support this program provides to help low-income families afford groceries,” Bergh added.
What do you think of Cardi B calling out Trump about SNAP?
