Featured Image Credit: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Halloween, Politics, US News, Money, Food and Drink
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, Halloween, Politics, US News, Money, Food and Drink
The US President has come under fire for letting his citizens 'eat cake', so to speak, over the weekend, by hosting a lavish Halloween banquet ahead of benefits being axed across the country.
Donald Trump welcomed a roster of right-wing politicians and administration members at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida estate on Friday evening (31 October), where he and wife Melania fronted a The Great Gatsby-themed party.
In attendance at the spooky soiree were the likes of Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and former US attorney, Jeanine Pirro.
According to a number of White House correspondents (AFP News Agency's Danny Kemp, and NewsNation's Kellie Meyer), that had also received an invite, the high-profile get-together had been inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel, as well as the Leonardo DiCaprio movie adaptation.
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Attendees reportedly rocked full-fledged feathers and flapper dresses, with Trump, 79, being pictured chatting cosily with his fellow Republicans.
Apparently, the President's party was so luxurious that it even came with it's own catchphrase, 'A little party never killed nobody'.
As we say, however, a number of critics have pointed out the sinister irony of this phrasing, given that the plush party comes amid millions of Americans losing their SNAP benefits - a very real life or death scenario for many vulnerable citizens.
The gut-wrenching cuts came in the midst of the US government shutdown, and has seen a heartbreaking number of those who usually rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as 'food stamps') left hungry - one in eight, in fact.
For those in need of a reminder, the current government shutdown is the second-longest on record, having started on the 1 October.
Republicans have refused to be swayed on the issue of the Affordable Care Act, the tax credits of which left-leaning leaders are attempting to extend in a bid to keep healthcare premiums at an affordable level.
The country's Department of Agriculture has previously warned that insufficient funding caused by the shutdown would see hordes of citizens unable to purchase food for their families when the roll out came back around on 1 November.
Amongst those to have pointed out the devastating irony of this weekend's festivities, was Gavin Newsom, the Democratic Governor of California.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he shared Kemp's photos from inside the party, writing: "Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby party while SNAP benefits were about to disappear for 42 million Americans.
"He does not give a damn about you."
Furious onlookers have also spoken out against Trump's latest jamboree, with one Instagram user claiming: "'Let them eat cake' comes to mind."
A second suggested, meanwhile: "Hunger Games come to mind!"
"Heartless," wrote another.