This was the period in which Republicans experienced a beating at the polls, the federal closure became the longest in US history, and millions across the nation, encompassing 3 million in Florida, saw their nutrition assistance reduced.
However, in the contrasting world of the Magic City, where tickets to an overwhelmingly right-leaning business conference headlined by the former president cost up to $1,990, and ultra-wealthy individuals from the Gulf kingdom mingled with equally affluent American tycoons such as Jeff Bezos and the hedge fund manager, those events generated scarcely any reaction.
Instead, in a gesture that seemed almost to highlight the widening disparity between the city’s affluent and have-nots, organizers of the corporate summit cooked up a small perk for attendees: a fifty-dollar gift card to use on food to support themselves while they listened to their leader congratulate himself for a era of prosperity he said his financial success had delivered.
Advocates say the action, along with the high-budget extravagance of the conference itself, was an ill-timed affront to more than a half-million Miami-Dade county residents who just saw their own capacity to buy essential groceries for their families kiboshed by the reduction of the federal food stamp program.
“There’s just a massive disconnect between what real people are going through, and the elite,” stated Larry Hannan, spokesperson of a civic coalition, a coalition of over a hundred non-partisan, democracy-focused and civic engagement organizations.
“Jeff Bezos hardly requires a $50 meal voucher. But we saw that with the Great Gatsby theme party last week. They just can’t seem to stop engaging in things that are shockingly out of touch.
“We’ve been through shutdowns before, and while clearly the White House bubble is always fairly unrealistic, leaders are typically smart enough, they generally know not to flaunt this type of stuff. But this government does not seem to care.”
The president’s hour-long speech on the event's second day had the tone of a political rally, with well-known insults for old political foes such as the Senate minority leader and the West Coast leader, and a new one: the recently voted-in progressive mayor of New York.
Trump discussed his economic agenda, and lauded a host of speakers from the realms of government, sport and business that filled the two-day schedule, organized largely by the mayor of the city of Miami to highlight south Florida and its economic potential.
The soccer superstar, the Argentinian soccer star and global champion, offered star power from the athletic world, along with tennis champions the Spanish player and Serena Williams. A conversation between the city leader and the Nobel laureate, the political figure who last month won the prestigious award, was well received on the opening day.
Yet overall it was a notable and unmistakably partisan event with a roster of Trump sycophants on the stage, loudly cheered by a audience of predominantly more youthful and wealthy supporters of the president in the audience, some combining professional attire with his trademark red MAGA caps.
How else to explain the attendance of the rightwing South American leader, the country whose unstable economy the US helped shore up last month with a twenty-billion-dollar currency swap? Or that of Saudi Arabians the fund chief, head of its $925bn sovereign wealth fund, and Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, touting their country as an opportunity while the former first family's business connections and sway there come under increased examination?
Additionally there was the head of world soccer’s governing body, suggesting that Trump is being considered for the organization’s first award, an unwanted new award that commentators see established specifically for the president as compensation for his prize rejection.
Other speakers, such as the CEO of JP Morgan; the creator of the co-working firm; and the financial executive, have all previously supported, collaborated with or voted for Trump, offering clear evidence of a partisan roster.
The city leader, unsurprisingly, had a contrasting view.
“Our aim was it to be a sort of a diverse representation from various sectors, right?” he explained to media.
“We convened. We said, ‘Hey, what are the leading voices?’ People from varied origins, different ethnicities, different genders … sports, commerce, politics, tech, things that impact daily life.”
He highlighted conversations of upcoming, money-spinning major occasions in the city, encompassing the Formula One grand prix, next year’s global conference at a golf resort, and matches during the soccer tournament, which he called “a generational opportunity”.
“The intention is that Miamians are inspired by the experience,” the mayor said. “We want them to leave thinking, ‘I can be on that stage.’”
The representatives of the civic group, however, believe numerous Miamians are concentrating right now on other issues, especially soaring real estate and grocery prices. Florida’s GOP leader rejected a call from the organization and others to declare an emergency over food assistance and tap state reserves to support immediate nutrition programs.
“Every social studies instructor would tell you it’s his responsibility to care for the people of Florida, and he’s doing the reverse,” the advocate said, noting the contrast of a conference of billionaires taking place in the identical region in which almost 25% of households depend on Snap benefits to survive.
“It appears to be this disconnection at the highest levels. I do not believe the solution is electing a Democrat or electing a conservative, I just think we have to have more empathy for individuals who are facing difficulties in this region.”
Empathy was in short supply in the city from Trump, a president not known for ever accepting blame during a crisis.
“Opposition lawmakers are causing countless of Americans who rely on nutritional aid to go without benefits,” he said, attributing fault to the out-of-office political group for the government shutdown.
“I just want to have a nation that’s prosperous once more. Is that OK?”
