It was the period in which Republicans suffered a beating at the polls, the federal closure became the most extended in US history, and millions across the nation, encompassing 3 million in Florida, saw their federal food aid slashed.
Yet, in the contrasting world of the Magic City, where admission passes to an largely right-leaning corporate gathering headlined by Donald Trump cost up to $1,990, and ultra-wealthy individuals from the Gulf kingdom rubbed shoulders with equally wealthy US magnates such as the Amazon founder and Ken Griffin, those developments created scarcely any reaction.
Conversely, in a gesture that seemed almost to highlight the widening disparity between the urban area's affluent and less fortunate, planners of the America Business Forum prepared a little treat for participants: a $50 gift card to spend on meals to sustain themselves while they listened to their president praise himself for a era of prosperity he said his financial success had achieved.
Critics say the move, along with the lavish opulence of the conference itself, was an ill-timed insult to over a half-million local residents who just saw their own capacity to buy basic food items for their families curtailed by the reduction of the federal food stamp program.
“There exists a significant cognitive dissonance between what ordinary citizens are going through, and the privileged,” said Larry Hannan, communications and policy director of a civic coalition, a coalition of over a hundred non-aligned, democracy-focused and civic engagement groups.
“The Amazon founder hardly requires a fifty-dollar food card. But we saw that with the 1920s-inspired gala last week. They just can’t seem to stop doing things that are strikingly out of touch.
“We’ve been through government closures before, and while obviously the presidential environment is always somewhat insane, presidents are usually smart enough, they usually know not to flaunt this type of stuff. But this administration does not seem to care.”
The president’s lengthy speech on Thursday had the tone of a campaign event, with familiar insults for longtime adversaries such as the Senate minority leader and the West Coast leader, and a fresh target: the newly elected progressive NYC leader.
The former president discussed his financial policies, and praised a host of speakers from the worlds of government, athletics and commerce that filled the multi-day schedule, created primarily by the local official to showcase the region and its investment opportunities.
The soccer superstar, the Argentinian soccer star and World Cup winner, provided celebrity glitz from sporting circles, along with grand slam winners Rafael Nadal and the American athlete. A discussion between the city leader and the Venezuelan opposition leader, the democracy activist who last month received the Nobel peace prize, was well received on day one.
Yet overall it was a curious and clearly partisan gathering with a field of Trump sycophants on the podium, enthusiastically applauded by a audience of mostly younger and wealthy backers of the president in the crowd, some combining professional attire with his trademark red Make America Great Again (Maga) caps.
In what other way to account for the attendance of the rightwing South American leader, the nation whose shaky economy the US supported last month with a $20bn lifeline? Or that of Saudi Arabians the fund chief, head of its massive Public Investment Fund, and the ambassador, Riyadh’s diplomatic envoy, touting their nation as ripe for investment while the former first family's financial ties and sway there come under increased examination?
Additionally there was the head of world soccer’s governing body, dropping hints that Trump is being considered for the group's inaugural peace prize, a controversial new award that observers see created specifically for the president as consolation for his Nobel snub.
Other participants, including the chief executive of the banking giant; the founder of the co-working firm; and the financial executive, have all in the past praised, collaborated with or backed the former president, offering clear evidence of a partisan roster.
The city leader, predictably, saw it differently.
“We wanted it to be a kind of a cross-section from different verticals, right?” he told reporters.
“We got in a room. We said, ‘Hey, what are the prominent figures?’ Individuals from varied origins, various heritages, different genders … athletics, commerce, government, tech, things that touch everyone’s lives.”
He highlighted conversations of upcoming, lucrative notable events in Miami, encompassing the Formula One grand prix, next year’s global conference at a leisure property, and games during the 2026 World Cup, which he called “a historic moment”.
“Our hope is that local residents are inspired by the event,” the official said. “We want them to leave believing, ‘I can be on that stage.’”
The advocates of State Voices Florida, however, believe numerous Miamians are more focused right now on other issues, particularly rising real estate and food costs. The state's GOP leader declined a request from the group and others to issue an emergency over Snap benefits and utilize public funds to support urgent food distribution.
“Any social studies instructor would tell you it’s his responsibility to care for the residents of the state, and he’s doing the exact opposite,” the advocate said, noting the juxtaposition of a conference of ultra-wealthy individuals taking place in the same county in which almost one quarter of families depend on food stamps to survive.
“There just seems to be this detachment at the highest levels. I don’t think the answer is electing a liberal or electing a conservative, I just think we have to have more empathy for people who are facing difficulties in this region.”
Empathy was in limited quantity in the city from Trump, a leader not known for ever accepting blame during a difficult period.
“Opposition lawmakers are resulting in countless of Americans who rely on nutritional aid to go without benefits,” he said, attributing fault to the out-of-office party for the government shutdown.
“My desire is to have a country that’s prosperous once more. Is that acceptable?”
