By Xiong Chaoran, Observer Net
"When champagne flowed and dancers in Flapper costumes performed for guests, Donald Trump played the role of Gatsby. Just a few hours later, 42 million Americans lost food assistance."
The UK's Daily Telegraph reported on November 2 local time that President Donald Trump faced fierce criticism over being caught hosting an extravagant Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, while the federal government shutdown continued to cause wage freezes and business closures.
The official theme of the Halloween party was "A little party never killed nobody," which obviously refers to the song by American singer Fergie from the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, which is based on the novel of the same name by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald published in 1925, depicting moral decay brought about by extravagance.
On that day at Trump's Mar-a-Lago, guests wore lavish 'Roaring Twenties' style clothing, performers moved through the crowd, and food and wine kept flowing. Critics (mostly Democrats) quickly pointed out that this celebration was "out of touch with reality" - just on November 1, as funding for the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as the food stamp program, ran out, this largest anti-hunger program in the United States was interrupted for the first time, leaving nearly 42 million Americans facing the threat of losing food.
Local time October 31, 2025, Palm Beach, Florida, USA, US President Trump attended a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago. Visual China
"Donald Trump held a 'Great Gatsby-style' party when 42 million Americans were about to lose their SNAP benefits," wrote California Governor Newsom, a Democratic state governor and one of Trump's main critics.
"He doesn't care about you at all," Newsom added, accompanied by a photo of Trump at the party.
"It always shocks me how brazenly he shows off his cruelty to the American people," said U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut: "He illegally refused to pay food stamps... yet hosted a ridiculous 'Gatsby-style' party for his right-wing billionaires and business friends."
Trump hosting a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago. The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph noted that it is currently unclear whether attendees of the Halloween party had to pay an entrance fee, but in similar events held at Mar-a-Lago previously, ticket prices have reached up to $1,000.
In one of the event photos, a dancer posed in a large gold martini glass, while video clips showed showgirls performing choreographed dances. Other photos showed a massive themed ice sculpture used for chilling drinks, as well as a variety of delicious pastries and desserts.
Many dancers perform at the party. The Daily Telegraph
Participants in the party included Secretary of State Rubio, Trump's two daughters Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump, and their husbands Jared Kushner and Michael Boulos, among others.
As Thanksgiving approaches this year, the government shutdown is nearing becoming the longest in U.S. history.
With most of the U.S. government's funds cut off, approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers were forced to work without pay. About 1.4 million federal employees were affected, with about half being furloughed and the rest required to work without pay.
On October 31 local time, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must use emergency reserve funds to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
While en route to Mar-a-Lago, Trump claimed the current impasse "was easy to solve" and blamed Democrats - "It's their fault."
On November 2 local time, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensons told CNN that the government would not appeal the court's ruling and claimed that the benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could be restored from November 5 local time.
Local time October 31, Florida, USA, volunteers holding a food distribution activity. Oriental IC
The Daily Telegraph reports that the current government shutdown has caused travel delays at airports across the United States, adding more pressure to air traffic controllers who are already working without pay.
Last weekend, due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, one of the busiest airports in the world, Los Angeles International Airport, temporarily halted flights.
Following this, major airports across the country experienced delays, including New York's JFK International Airport, San Francisco, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, and airports in Washington, D.C.
Before the government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) already faced a long-term shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
Trump's Halloween party sparked controversy, and his recent decision to tear down the East Wing of the White House and convert it into a luxurious ballroom also drew criticism. Reports indicate that these actions are unpopular with voters and have raised accusations of bribery from some private donors.
Public opinion polls show that the public generally blames the Trump administration for the government shutdown. According to the average data from The Economist, Trump's net approval rating has dropped to -18%, lower than Biden's level at the same stage of his term.
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