Former Vice President Kamala Harris voiced anger over reports that President Donald Trump is constructing a ballroom at the White House during the ongoing government shutdown, which began earlier this month.
During an appearance on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart Thursday, Harris accused Trump of focusing on luxury projects while ignoring the potential lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding.
The program provides food assistance to more than 40 million Americans and is expected to lose funding unless Congress reaches a deal to reopen the government.
“Are you f**king 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 during the podcast. “Come on!”
Harris continued her remarks by saying, “I’m not going to be distracted by, ‘Oh, does the guy have a big f**king hammer!?’ What about those babies?!”
The government shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led nearly all Senate Democrats in blocking a bipartisan continuing resolution that would have kept federal agencies funded.
The shutdown has stretched for weeks, and states have warned that they may halt SNAP payments beginning Nov. 1 if Congress does not act.
Democrats have stated they will not support any funding deal that does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and other Democratic policy priorities, the Daily Caller reported.
That position has led to a stalemate with congressional Republicans, who have called for a “clean” funding bill that would reopen the government without additional provisions.
Criticism of the Democrats’ stance has not come only from Republicans.
The outlet further noted that on Monday, a self-identified Democratic caller to C-SPAN’s Washington Journal said her party was responsible for the shutdown.
The caller described herself as a retired federal employee and expressed frustration with Democratic leadership.
“This is the truth: The Democrats, and I’m a Democrat, are the ones that actually, in the Senate side, shut down the government,” the caller said.
“They did not vote for a continuing resolution except for three of them. One is the senator of Pennsylvania, [John] Fetterman.”
The caller went on to say that the party’s strategy was punishing ordinary Americans.
“So they have to get together and stop holding Americans hostage,” she continued.
“We’re about to have people without food come, what, November 1st, which is the end of this week. And that’s ridiculous. It is not worth it.”
WATCH:
Reports surfaced earlier this week that construction crews had begun demolishing part of the East Wing to make way for the new ballroom space.
Democratic leaders and progressive activists reacted sharply to the news, accusing Trump of prioritizing personal luxury over public welfare during the shutdown.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), and former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre were among those who criticized the project. They shared photos of the construction site on social media, alleging that Trump was “abusing his power” by authorizing such work while federal operations were halted.
