It was the period in which GOP lawmakers experienced setbacks at the ballot box, the federal closure became the longest in history, and millions throughout the nation, encompassing three million residents in the Sunshine State, saw their federal food aid reduced.
However, in the alternative reality of the Magic City, where admission passes to an largely conservative business conference fronted by Donald Trump were priced up to nearly two thousand dollars, and billionaires from Saudi Arabia rubbed shoulders with equally affluent US magnates such as Jeff Bezos and Ken Griffin, those events generated barely a ripple.
Instead, in a move that seemed almost to highlight the growing divide between the city’s affluent and less fortunate, planners of the America Business Forum prepared a small perk for participants: a fifty-dollar voucher to spend on meals to support themselves while they paid attention to their leader praise himself for a “golden age” he said his “economic miracle” had delivered.
Critics say the move, along with the high-budget extravagance of the event itself, was an ill-timed insult to more than a 500,000 Miami-Dade county inhabitants who just saw their own capacity to buy essential groceries for their families curtailed 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 a policy director, communications and policy director of a civic coalition, a coalition of more than a 100 non-partisan, pro-democracy and community involvement groups.
“Jeff Bezos does not need a fifty-dollar food card. But we saw that with the Great Gatsby theme party 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 presidential environment is always somewhat insane, leaders are typically smart enough, they generally know not to flaunt this kind of behavior. But this administration does not appear concerned.”
The president’s lengthy address on the event's second day had the tone of a campaign event, with familiar insults for old political foes including the Democratic leader and the West Coast leader, and a fresh target: the newly elected democratic socialist mayor of New York.
Trump discussed his financial policies, and lauded a host of speakers from the worlds of government, sport and commerce that filled the two-day agenda, organized largely by the mayor of the city of Miami to showcase south Florida and its investment opportunities.
Lionel Messi, the Argentinian soccer star and global champion, offered celebrity glitz from sporting circles, along with grand slam winners Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. A discussion 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 overall it was a notable and unmistakably politically charged gathering with a field of Trump sycophants on the podium, loudly cheered by a crowd of predominantly younger and wealthy supporters of the president in the audience, some combining professional attire with his signature red MAGA caps.
In what other way to account for the presence of the conservative president of Argentina, the country whose shaky financial system the US supported last month with a $20bn lifeline? Or that of Saudi Arabians Fahad AlSaif, head of its massive Public Investment Fund, and Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, touting their country as ripe for investment while the Trump family’s business connections and sway there face increased examination?
Additionally there was the leader of world soccer’s governing body, suggesting that Trump is being considered for the group's first peace prize, an unwanted new award that commentators see created specially for the leader as compensation for his prize rejection.
Other speakers, such as the CEO of the banking giant; the creator of WeWork; and the hedge-fund manager, have all previously supported, collaborated with or backed Trump, providing clear evidence of a politically skewed roster.
The city leader, predictably, saw it differently.
“We wanted it to be a sort of a cross-section from different verticals, right?” he explained to reporters.
“We convened. We said, ‘Hey, what are the prominent figures?’ Individuals from varied origins, various heritages, different genders … athletics, commerce, politics, technology, things that impact daily life.”
He pointed to discussions of forthcoming, lucrative notable events in Miami, including the F1 race, next year’s G20 economic summit at a leisure property, and games during the soccer tournament, which he called “a historic moment”.
“Our hope is that Miamians are transformed by the event,” the official said. “We want them to leave believing, ‘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, particularly rising housing and food costs. The state's Republican governor rejected a call from the group and others to issue an emergency over food assistance and tap state reserves to support urgent nutrition programs.
“Any civics teacher would tell you it’s his responsibility to look after the people of Florida, and he’s doing the exact opposite,” the advocate said, observing the juxtaposition of a conference of ultra-wealthy individuals taking place in the identical region 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 answer is electing a Democrat 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 Trump, a leader unrecognized for ever accepting blame during a crisis.
“Opposition lawmakers are resulting in millions of citizens who depend on food stamps to go without support,” he said, blaming the opposition party for the federal closure.
“My desire is to have a nation that’s prosperous once more. Is that acceptable?”
