Nero Would Be Proud’— Hillary Clinton Blasts Trump for Withholding SNAP Benefits During Shutdown

Hillary Clinton has sharply criticized President Donald Trump, comparing him to one of history’s most ruthless rulers — the Roman Emperor Nero. Her comments came after Trump announced he would not restore food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) while the government remains shut down.

Posting on X, the former first lady wrote, “This is the president of the United States taking a break from gold-and-marble interior renovations to say he’ll defy a court order to feed hungry Americans.” She ended her post with a stinging line: “Nero would be proud.”

Clinton’s statement referred to a Truth Social post where Trump boasted about cutting SNAP benefits, blaming Democrats for the shutdown. In his message, Trump wrote, “SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term, were being handed out to anyone who asked, instead of to those in need. They’ll be restored only when Radical Left Democrats open the government—and not before!”

Clinton’s comparison was pointed and symbolic. Emperor Nero, who ruled Rome in the first century, was infamous for his cruelty, excess, and indifference to the suffering of his people. History remembers him as a tyrant who allegedly played music as Rome burned, more concerned with his lavish lifestyle than the devastation around him. Though some historical claims are disputed, Nero’s reign is still widely regarded as one of corruption, waste, and arrogance — a metaphor Clinton used to criticize Trump’s leadership.

Nero’s early rule began with promises of reform, but after the deaths of his trusted advisors, Burrus and Seneca, he turned into a brutal ruler. He persecuted Christians, murdered political rivals — including his own wife — and pushed Rome into chaos through his greed and unpredictability. Eventually, Nero’s rule led to rebellion, and the Senate declared him an enemy of the state. He ultimately took his own life while fleeing capture.

By invoking Nero, Clinton was drawing a sharp parallel between the ancient emperor’s extravagance and Trump’s current behavior amid the crisis. The president had recently posted online about his newly renovated “Lincoln Bathroom” in the White House — boasting about its transformation from “ugly green tiles” to “polished Statuary marble.” Trump said the redesign was more “appropriate” for Abraham Lincoln’s era, proudly sharing photos of the updated bathroom, even as millions of Americans worried about losing access to food.

Critics were outraged, saying that while families are going hungry, the president seemed more focused on interior décor than national hardship. Trump defended the renovation, insisting that the bathroom’s 1940s art deco style — installed by the Truman family — was “not right for the Lincoln Era.”

Clinton’s post quickly went viral, with many social media users echoing her comparison. Some pointed out that just like Nero, Trump appeared to be indulging in luxury while ignoring citizens’ suffering.

Her comment — “Nero would be proud” — summed up a larger frustration shared by many Americans who see the government shutdown and the SNAP suspension as cruel and unnecessary. For them, the image of Trump admiring marble tiles while families face empty fridges feels painfully symbolic — a portrait of power disconnected from reality.