This was the period in which Republicans suffered a beating at the polls, the government shutdown turned into the longest in US history, and countless individuals across the country, encompassing 3 million in Florida, saw their federal food aid reduced.
However, in the contrasting world of Miami, where tickets to an overwhelmingly conservative business conference fronted by the former president were priced up to $1,990, and billionaires from Saudi Arabia rubbed shoulders with similarly affluent American tycoons including the Amazon founder and Ken Griffin, those events created scarcely any reaction.
Instead, in a gesture that seemed almost to highlight the growing disparity between the urban area's haves and have-nots, organizers of the America Business Forum prepared a little treat for attendees: a $50 gift card to use on meals to support themselves while they paid attention to their president praise himself for a era of prosperity he said his “economic miracle” had delivered.
Advocates say the move, along with the lavish extravagance of the conference itself, was an poorly timed affront to over a 500,000 local inhabitants who just saw their own ability 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 real people are going through, and the elite,” stated a policy director, spokesperson of a civic coalition, a coalition of over a 100 non-partisan, pro-democracy and community involvement groups.
“Jeff Bezos hardly requires a fifty-dollar meal voucher. But we observed that with the Great Gatsby theme party last week. They just appear unable to stop engaging in things that are strikingly out of touch.
“We have experienced government closures before, and while obviously the White House bubble is always fairly unrealistic, leaders are typically smart enough, they usually know not to flaunt this type of stuff. But this government does not appear concerned.”
The leader's lengthy speech on Thursday had the tone of a political rally, with familiar insults for longtime adversaries such as the Democratic leader and the West Coast leader, and a new one: the recently voted-in democratic socialist mayor of New York.
Trump touched on his economic agenda, and praised a host of speakers from the realms of government, athletics and business that populated the multi-day schedule, organized largely by the local official to highlight the region and its economic potential.
The soccer superstar, the Argentina football icon and World Cup winner, offered celebrity glitz from sporting circles, along with grand slam winners Rafael Nadal and the American athlete. A discussion between the city leader and the Nobel laureate, the democracy activist who last month received the prestigious award, was favorably viewed on the opening day.
Nevertheless overall it was a notable and unmistakably politically charged event with a field of supportive speakers on the stage, enthusiastically applauded by a audience of predominantly younger and wealthy backers of the leader in the audience, some blending business suits with his signature red Make America Great Again (Maga) caps.
How else to account for the attendance of the rightwing president of Argentina, the country whose unstable financial system Trump supported last month with a $20bn currency swap? Or that of Saudi Arabians the fund chief, head of its $925bn Public Investment Fund, and Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's diplomatic envoy, promoting their nation as an opportunity while the former first family's business connections and sway there come under increased examination?
Then there was the head of Fifa, suggesting that the former president is being considered for the group's inaugural peace prize, a controversial new award that commentators see established specially for the president as consolation for his prize rejection.
Additional speakers, such as the chief executive of the banking giant; the founder of the co-working firm; and the hedge-fund manager, have all previously supported, collaborated with or voted for the former president, offering clear evidence of a politically skewed roster.
The Miami mayor, predictably, saw it differently.
“Our aim was it to be a sort of a diverse representation from different verticals, right?” he told reporters.
“We got in a room. We said, ‘Hey, what are the prominent figures?’ Individuals from varied origins, different ethnicities, different genders … athletics, business, government, technology, things that touch everyone’s lives.”
He highlighted discussions of upcoming, lucrative major occasions in Miami, including the Formula One grand prix, next year’s global conference at a leisure property, and games during the soccer tournament, which he called “a generational opportunity”.
“Our hope is that Miamians are inspired by the event,” the official said. “We want them to leave thinking, ‘I can be on that stage.’”
The representatives of State Voices Florida, however, believe numerous Miamians are concentrating right now on other issues, especially rising housing and grocery prices. Florida’s Republican governor rejected a call from the group and others to issue an crisis over Snap benefits and utilize state reserves to fund urgent food distribution.
“Any civics teacher would tell you it’s his job to look after the people of the state, and he’s doing the exact opposite,” the advocate said, observing the contrast of a summit of billionaires taking place in the same county in which almost one quarter of households rely on Snap benefits to get by.
“It appears to be this disconnection at the highest levels. I do not believe the answer is electing a Democrat or electing a Republican, I just think we have to have more empathy for individuals who are facing difficulties in this state.”
Empathy was in short supply in the city from Trump, a leader unrecognized for ever accepting blame during a difficult period.
“The radical left Democrats are resulting in millions of Americans who depend on nutritional aid to go without support,” he said, blaming the out-of-office party for the government shutdown.
“I just want to have a country that’s great again. Is that OK?”
