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It was the week in which Republicans experienced a beating at the ballot box, the government shutdown turned into the most extended in history, and millions across the nation, including three million residents in Florida, experienced their federal food aid reduced.

Yet, in the alternative reality of the Magic City, where tickets to an largely right-leaning business conference fronted by the former president cost up to $1,990, and billionaires from Saudi Arabia rubbed shoulders with equally affluent American tycoons such as Jeff Bezos and Ken Griffin, those events generated scarcely any reaction.

Instead, in a gesture that seemed almost to mock the widening disparity between the urban area's affluent and less fortunate, organizers of the America Business Forum prepared a little treat for participants: a $50 voucher to spend on food to sustain themselves while they paid attention to their president congratulate himself for a “golden age” he said his financial success had delivered.

Advocates argue the action, along with the lavish opulence of the conference itself, was an poorly timed insult to more than a 500,000 Miami-Dade county inhabitants who just saw their own ability to buy essential groceries for their families kiboshed by the gutting of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap).

“There’s just a massive disconnect between what real people are going through, and the elite,” stated Larry Hannan, spokesperson of State Voices Florida, a coalition of more than a 100 non-partisan, pro-democracy and community involvement groups.

“The Amazon founder hardly requires a $50 meal voucher. But we saw that with the Great Gatsby theme party last week. They just appear unable to stop engaging in things that are strikingly disconnected.

“We have experienced government closures before, and while obviously the presidential environment is always somewhat unrealistic, leaders are usually astute enough, they generally know not to display this kind of behavior. But this government does not appear concerned.”

The president’s hour-long speech on Thursday had the flavor of a political rally, with well-known criticisms for old political foes including the Senate minority leader and the West Coast leader, and a new one: the recently voted-in progressive NYC leader.

Trump discussed his economic agenda, and lauded a array of speakers from the worlds of government, sport and business that filled the two-day agenda, organized largely by the mayor of the city of Miami to showcase the region and its investment opportunities.

The soccer superstar, the Argentinian football icon and World Cup winner, offered celebrity glitz from the athletic world, along with tennis champions Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. A conversation between the city leader and the Venezuelan opposition leader, the democracy activist who last month won the prestigious award, was well received on day one.

Yet in general it was a notable and unmistakably partisan gathering with a roster of supportive speakers on the stage, enthusiastically applauded by a crowd of mostly younger and wealthy supporters of the president in the audience, some combining business suits with his signature red MAGA caps.

In what other way to account for the attendance of the conservative South American leader, the country whose unstable financial system Trump supported last month with a $20bn lifeline? Or that of Saudi Arabians the fund chief, head of its massive sovereign wealth fund, and Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, touting their nation as an opportunity while the Trump family’s business connections and influence there come under increased examination?

Then there was the head of world soccer’s governing body, suggesting that Trump is in line for the group's inaugural award, a controversial new award that commentators see established specially for the leader as consolation for his Nobel snub.

Additional speakers, including the CEO of the banking giant; the creator of the co-working firm; and the hedge-fund manager, have all previously supported, collaborated with or backed Trump, offering clear evidence of a politically skewed lineup.

The Miami mayor, unsurprisingly, saw it differently.

“We wanted it to be a kind of a diverse representation from various sectors, right?” he told media.

“We got in a room. We said, ‘Hey, what are the prominent figures?’ Individuals from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, all genders … sports, business, politics, tech, things that impact daily life.”

He highlighted conversations of forthcoming, lucrative major occasions in Miami, including the F1 race, next year’s G20 economic summit at a leisure property, and games during the 2026 World Cup, which he called “a generational opportunity”.

“Our hope is that local residents are transformed by the event,” the mayor said. “We want them to leave thinking, ‘I can be on that stage.’”

The representatives of the civic group, however, believe numerous Miamians are more focused right now on different concerns, especially rising real estate and grocery prices. The state's Republican governor declined a request from the organization and others to issue an crisis over Snap benefits and utilize state reserves to support immediate food distribution.

“Any social studies instructor would tell you it’s his responsibility to look after the residents of Florida, and he’s doing the reverse,” the advocate said, observing the contrast of a conference of billionaires taking place in the identical region in which nearly one quarter of families rely on Snap benefits to get by.

“It appears to be this disconnection at the highest levels. I don’t think the solution is electing a liberal or selecting a Republican, I just think we have to have greater compassion for individuals who are struggling in this state.”

Compassion was in short supply in Miami from the former president, a leader unrecognized for ever accepting blame during a crisis.

“The radical left Democrats are resulting in millions of Americans who depend on food stamps to go without support,” he said, attributing fault to the opposition political group for the government shutdown.

“My desire is to have a nation that’s great again. Is that acceptable?”