GOP strategist tells Americans about to lose food assistance to make ‘better choices’

Republican strategist Lindy Li on Friday told the 42 million Americans expected to lose food assistance starting Saturday that they should be “making better choices” so that they don’t have to rely on the federal program that provides meals to more than 12% of the U.S. population, including 16 million children.

Now on its 31st day, the ongoing government shutdown has put a number of federal programs at risk, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food assistance for those with incomes far below the poverty line.

“I have a very hard time believing that the 42 million people who are on SNAP all qualify,” Li said, speaking on Newsmax. “Someone on Newsmax said last night [that] maybe people should start making better choices so they don't have to rely on the government day in and day out. What happened to personal responsibility? It used to be an American ideal!”

Li was likely referring to comments made Thursday night by Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), who appeared on the network to tout his new legislation that would further tighten eligibility around SNAP, while also criticizing the program as having become an “entitlement to too many people.”

The Trump administration does have funds available that it could tap into to avoid a disruption to SNAP benefits, but has argued against doing so — a decision that has frustrated a federal judge who’s hinted they may order the Trump administration to send out SNAP benefits regardless.

According to Li, however, Trump was making the right move, and defended the administration’s decision not to fund what she called a “dependency empire.”

“We have to be very clear what's happening here: they built a dependency empire, and it is crumbling right now! And President Trump isn't starving kids – he's starving socialist beasts,” Li said.

“He's starving the handouts for millions of illegal aliens; why are we putting them first when we have so many Americans – millions of Americans – suffering on the streets? Why are we prioritizing illegals? That is a question that Democrats need to answer.”

Li previously ran as a Democratic candidate for Congress, describing herself as a “tree-hugging progressive,” and sought the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America. She lost her Congressional bid, and years later, shifted to the Republican Party and to becoming a strong supporter of Trump.

Li immigrated from China in the mid-1990s. Her father was a real estate agent and property manager, and she attended an expensive private school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which as of this year has a tuition of $47,650 per academic year for 9th-12th grade.