It was the week in which Republicans suffered a beating at the ballot box, the federal closure became the longest in history, and millions throughout the country, including three million residents in the Sunshine State, experienced their nutrition assistance slashed.
Yet, in the alternative reality of Miami, where admission passes to an overwhelmingly conservative corporate gathering fronted by Donald Trump were priced up to nearly two thousand dollars, and ultra-wealthy individuals from the Gulf kingdom rubbed shoulders with similarly wealthy American tycoons including Jeff Bezos and the hedge fund manager, those events generated barely a ripple.
Conversely, in a move that appeared almost to mock the growing disparity between the city’s haves and less fortunate, organizers of the corporate summit prepared a little treat for participants: a $50 gift card to spend on food to support themselves while they listened to their president congratulate himself for a era of prosperity he said his financial success had delivered.
Critics argue the action, along with the high-budget extravagance of the conference itself, was an poorly timed affront to more than a half-million Miami-Dade county inhabitants who just saw their own capacity to buy essential groceries for their families kiboshed by the gutting of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap).
“There’s just a massive cognitive dissonance between what ordinary citizens are going through, and the privileged,” stated Larry Hannan, spokesperson of State Voices Florida, a coalition of more than a hundred non-aligned, pro-democracy and civic engagement groups.
“Jeff Bezos does not need a fifty-dollar meal voucher. But we saw that with the 1920s-inspired gala last week. They just appear unable to stop engaging in things that are shockingly out of touch.
“We have experienced shutdowns before, and while clearly the White House bubble is always somewhat unrealistic, leaders are typically smart enough, they generally know not to display this kind of behavior. But this administration does not appear concerned.”
The president’s hour-long speech on Thursday had the flavor of a political rally, with well-known criticisms for longtime adversaries including the Senate minority leader and California’s governor, and a fresh target: the newly elected democratic socialist NYC leader.
Trump discussed his financial policies, and lauded a host of presenters from the realms of politics, sport and commerce that populated the two-day schedule, created largely by the local official to showcase south Florida and its investment opportunities.
The soccer superstar, the Argentinian soccer star and global champion, offered star power from sporting circles, along with grand slam winners the Spanish player and the American athlete. A discussion between the city leader and the Venezuelan opposition leader, the democracy activist who last month received the prestigious award, was well received on day one.
Yet overall it was a curious and unmistakably partisan event with a field of supportive speakers on the stage, loudly cheered by a crowd of predominantly younger and wealthy backers of the president in the crowd, some combining business suits with his trademark red Make America Great Again (Maga) caps.
How else to explain the presence of the conservative president of Argentina, the country whose unstable economy the US helped shore up last month with a $20bn lifeline? Or that of Kingdom representatives the fund chief, head of its massive Public Investment Fund, and Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, promoting their nation as an opportunity while the Trump family’s financial ties and influence there face greater scrutiny?
Then there was the head of Fifa, suggesting that Trump is being considered for the organization’s inaugural award, a controversial honor that commentators see established specially for the president as compensation for his prize rejection.
Additional speakers, such as the CEO of JP Morgan; the creator of WeWork; and the financial executive, have all in the past supported, worked with or backed the former president, offering more than a suggestion of a partisan lineup.
The Miami mayor, predictably, had a contrasting view.
“We wanted it to be a kind of a diverse representation from various sectors, right?” he told media.
“We got in a room. We said, ‘Hey, what are the leading voices?’ Individuals from different backgrounds, various heritages, different genders … athletics, commerce, government, tech, things that touch everyone’s lives.”
He highlighted conversations of forthcoming, money-spinning major occasions in the city, including the Formula One grand prix, next year’s global conference at a leisure property, and matches during the 2026 World Cup, which he called “a historic moment”.
“The intention is that local residents are inspired by the event,” the mayor said. “We want them to leave thinking, ‘I can be on that stage.’”
The advocates of the civic group, on the other hand, contend many locals are more focused right now on other issues, especially soaring real estate and grocery prices. The state's GOP leader rejected a request from the organization and others to declare an crisis over food assistance and tap public funds to support urgent nutrition programs.
“Any social studies instructor would tell you it’s his responsibility to look after the people of the state, and he’s doing the reverse,” Hannan said, observing the contrast of a conference of ultra-wealthy individuals taking place in the same county in which almost one quarter of families rely on food stamps to survive.
“It appears to be this detachment at the highest levels. I do not believe the solution is choosing a Democrat or selecting a Republican, I just think we have to have greater compassion for people who are struggling in this state.”
Compassion was in limited quantity in Miami from the former president, a leader unrecognized for ever taking responsibility during a difficult period.
“Opposition lawmakers are causing countless of citizens who rely on food stamps to go without benefits,” he said, blaming the opposition party for the federal closure.
“I just want to have a country that’s prosperous once more. Is that OK?”
