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A federal judge rebuked the Donald Trump administration on Thursday from the bench, taking exception in part to a Truth Social posted by the president earlier this week.

Trump used his favourite social media platform on Tuesday, responding to a judge's ruling, to suggest that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) benefits "will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government," a reference to the partial government shutdown that is now the longest in U.S. history.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to walk back Trump's post hours later, suggesting the administration would comply, but the damage was done.

In the eyes of the judge in the case, John McConnell, Trump "stated his intent to defy the court order." McConnell made his comments Thursday as he gave the White House another 24 hours to fund the November instalment for some 42 million SNAP recipients. The Trump administration signalled its intent to appeal that order.

Vice-President JD Vance lashed out at McConnell in the latest incident, a continuation of a trend that separates the second Trump presidential administration from the first.

McConnell's comments are just the latest example in which this administration's use of social media has been of no small co