Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World responded to President Donald J. Trump’s first speech before a joint session of Congress. The following statement can be attributed to Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World:
“President Trump and our new Congress have this week started to slash programs that help hungry people. Their actions don’t square with the lofty rhetoric of the president’s first speech to Congress.
“President Trump promised a better future for all Americans, but the day before his speech he began a process of deep funding cuts to many domestic programs. While the president spoke about making sure that no one is dropped from Medicaid, the House of Representatives is moving forward with plans to cut Medicaid.
“The president promised to create jobs through infrastructure and tax cuts, including tax cuts for the middle class. But Trump has yet to translate his campaign rhetoric on these issues into specific proposals. Fulfilling all the big promises in his speech to Congress will require funding cuts, and the cuts are likely to fall heavily on programs that help struggling Americans.
“President Trump’s speech ended with hopes for a world of justice and peace. Yet he is deporting many immigrants who are living and working peaceably in this country, and the White House just announced that the president wants to cut U.S. assistance to hungry and poor people around the world by 30 percent.
“Bread for the World welcomes President Trump’s new appeal for unity in our badly divided nation. But the president’s newly positive tone is in tension with the cuts that he and Congress are making in programs that help families who are struggling with hunger and poverty.”
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