President Donald Trump is facing significant criticism for hosting a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party just hours before more than 40 million Americans lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to a government funding lapse.
The Republican president threw a lavish Halloween celebration at his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The party was inspired by the novel *The Great Gatsby* by F. Scott Fitzgerald, with the official theme titled “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody”—a nod to a song featured on the soundtrack of the 2013 film adaptation, performed by Fergie, Q-Tip, and GoonRock.
Set in the 1920s, *The Great Gatsby* explores the moral decay of the wealthy during that era. The event captured the glittering and gaudy aesthetic of the time, with attendees dressed in period-appropriate costumes that reflected the roaring twenties.
President Trump was seen enjoying the festivities, sitting alongside his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
However, the timing of the party, centered around themes of prosperity and excess, coincided with a dire moment for millions of Americans. On November 1, funding for SNAP expired after Congress failed to reopen the government, causing immediate loss of food benefits for over 40 million people.
Although a federal judge later ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to continue food aid in November, this ruling did not prevent the initial lapse in benefits.
On the night of the party, President Trump addressed the SNAP situation on social media, stating: “I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. Even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out. If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding.”
The juxtaposition of the opulent party and the loss of critical food assistance has sparked considerable backlash and raised questions about priorities during a time of national hardship.
https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/treyalston/president-trump-great-gatsby-party-halloween-snap