Trump throws ‘Gatsby’-themed party as SNAP benefits expire
I hope everyone had a good Halloween. The president certainly did, as he spent the weekend throwing a “Great Gatsby”-themed party at Mar-a-Lago.
Now, “The Great Gatsby,” for those who may have missed the symbolism in high school English, is a story about excess, delusion, and the moral decadence behind wealth. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of the rich: “They were careless people… They smashed things and creatures and then fell back into their money or their own colossal carelessness… and left others to clean up the mess they had made.”
So the question is, was this Gatsby theme an intentional metaphor, or just completely tone-deaf? Because while guests were sipping champagne under chandeliers, millions of Americans were losing SNAP benefits amid one of the longest government shutdowns in U.S. history.
And it doesn’t stop at the costume party. The White House is raising money for a new Trump Hall — a $300 million project — that offers wealthy donors the opportunity to remain anonymous, even when their companies had business before his administration, according to The New York Times.
The optics are bleak. Major healthcare companies are seeking Medicare services, Wall Street powers are looking for business advantages, and even the CEO of Nvidia has admitted to donating to the project. The message is loud and clear: loyalty is rewarded behind closed doors.
Ethics experts have raised concerns about such donations, noting that they could lead to special treatment for donors, or even test the federal ban on agencies accepting private gifts. Trump insists that the hall is “apolitical” and that he will contribute his own money — but the secrecy surrounding some donors only deepens suspicions.
Meanwhile, a new Yahoo/YouGov poll shows that 60% of Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling the economy, and only a third approve. The country is suffering, and yet the president is hosting Gatsby-style celebrations.
California Governor Gavin Newsom commented on
Trump once built his brand by connecting with voters, promising to transform Washington and level the playing field. But now? He’s building a dance floor instead of rebuilding that bond.
Because when you spend your weekend partying in your marble palace while people skip meals – and when you receive favors from the rich to finance your personal projects – you don’t just lose confidence. You prove that you never understood who you were talking to in the first place.
Lindsay Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of the commentary show “Rising” on The Hill. This column is an edited version for on-air commentary.
