President Donald Trump said his administration lacks the legal authority to fund food assistance during the ongoing government shutdown — a claim critics dismissed as political theater. With federal food aid set to expire Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social on Friday night to blame Democrats for the crisis and even shared Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office phone number. Trump said administration lawyers concluded they cannot legally use existing funds to issue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while the shutdown continues. “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” Trump wrote, referencing Senate Democrats who have blocked a clean funding bill 14 times.

Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but in the Senate, 60 votes are required to overcome the filibuster. So far, only a few Democrats have broken ranks to side with the GOP. Trump explained that funding delays stem from the shutdown’s timing and state-level distribution procedures. He added that if granted legal clearance, “it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay.” Trump also urged Americans to call “Cryin’ Chuck Schumer” and demand that Democrats vote to reopen the government. Late Friday, two federal judges ordered the administration to continue funding SNAP using contingency funds, just a day before the USDA planned to freeze benefits. Trump said his administration would comply but noted that payments could be delayed as states process the transfers.

Meanwhile, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) predicted the shutdown could end this week as Democrats seek an “exit ramp” after Tuesday’s elections. He told Fox News host Kellyanne Conway that Democrats would likely move to reopen the government by midweek, once key gubernatorial races conclude, to minimize political damage.