This was the week in which GOP lawmakers experienced setbacks at the ballot box, the federal closure became the longest in history, and countless individuals throughout the nation, including 3 million in the Sunshine State, saw their nutrition assistance slashed.
Yet, in the alternative reality of the Magic City, where tickets to an overwhelmingly right-leaning corporate gathering fronted by the former president were priced up to $1,990, and billionaires from Saudi Arabia rubbed shoulders with similarly wealthy US magnates including the Amazon founder and Ken Griffin, those events generated scarcely any reaction.
Conversely, in a move that seemed almost to mock the growing divide between the city’s affluent and have-nots, organizers of the corporate summit cooked up a little treat for attendees: a $50 gift card to use on food to sustain themselves while they paid attention to their leader congratulate himself for a “golden age” he said his “economic miracle” had achieved.
Critics argue the move, along with the high-budget extravagance of the event itself, was an poorly timed insult to over a 500,000 local residents who just saw their own ability to buy basic food items for their families kiboshed by the gutting of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap).
“There exists a significant disconnect between what ordinary citizens are experiencing, and the elite,” said a policy director, communications and policy director of a civic coalition, a alliance of over a hundred non-aligned, pro-democracy and community involvement groups.
“The Amazon founder does not need a fifty-dollar food card. But we saw that with the 1920s-inspired gala last week. They just appear unable to stop doing things that are strikingly out of touch.
“We have experienced shutdowns before, and while obviously the White House bubble is always fairly unrealistic, presidents are usually smart enough, they usually know not to display this kind of behavior. But this government does not appear concerned.”
The president’s lengthy address on the event's second day had the tone of a campaign event, with familiar criticisms for old political foes such as the Democratic leader and the West Coast leader, and a new one: the newly elected democratic socialist mayor of New York.
The former president touched on his economic agenda, and praised a host of presenters from the worlds of politics, sport and business that populated the multi-day agenda, created largely by the local official to highlight the region and its economic potential.
The soccer superstar, the Argentina football icon and World Cup winner, provided star power from the athletic world, along with tennis champions the Spanish player and the American athlete. A conversation between the Miami mayor and the Venezuelan opposition leader, the political figure who last month received the prestigious award, was well received on day one.
Yet in general it was a notable and clearly politically charged event with a field of Trump sycophants on the stage, enthusiastically applauded by a crowd of predominantly more youthful and affluent supporters of the leader in the audience, some combining professional attire with his trademark red Make America Great Again (Maga) caps.
How else to explain the attendance of the rightwing South American leader, the country whose shaky financial system Trump supported last month with a twenty-billion-dollar currency swap? Or that of Saudi Arabians Fahad AlSaif, head of its $925bn Public Investment Fund, and Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, promoting their country as an opportunity while the former first family's business connections and sway there face greater scrutiny?
Additionally there was the head of world soccer’s governing body, dropping hints that the former president is in line for the group's inaugural award, a controversial new award that observers see established specially for the president as compensation for his Nobel snub.
Additional participants, including the CEO of JP Morgan; the founder of the co-working firm; and the financial executive, have all in the past praised, worked with or voted for Trump, offering more than a suggestion of a politically skewed lineup.
The Miami mayor, predictably, 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 got in a room. We said, ‘Hey, what are the prominent figures?’ People from different backgrounds, various heritages, all genders … athletics, commerce, politics, tech, things that impact daily life.”
He pointed to discussions of forthcoming, money-spinning major occasions in Miami, including the F1 race, next year’s global conference at a leisure property, and matches during the soccer tournament, which he called “a generational opportunity”.
“The intention is that Miamians 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 numerous Miamians are more focused right now on different concerns, especially rising housing and grocery prices. The state's Republican governor declined a call from the group and additional parties to declare an emergency over Snap benefits and utilize public funds to fund urgent food distribution.
“Any social studies instructor would tell you it’s his responsibility to look after the people of the state, and he’s doing the exact opposite,” Hannan said, noting the contrast of a summit of ultra-wealthy individuals taking place in the identical region in which almost one quarter of households rely on Snap benefits to get by.
“There just seems to be this detachment at the highest levels. I do not believe the solution is electing a liberal or electing a Republican, I just think we have to have more empathy for people who are struggling in this region.”
Empathy was in short supply in the city from the former president, a leader not known for ever taking responsibility during a crisis.
“The radical left Democrats are causing millions of Americans who depend on food stamps to go without benefits,” he said, attributing fault to the out-of-office party for the federal closure.
“I just want to have a nation that’s prosperous once more. Is that acceptable?”
