The U.S. government shutdown has entered its fifth week, and its effects are being felt across the country — especially among the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to feed their families. As the USDA confirms that contingency funds have run dry, food assistance payments for November have been paused indefinitely, leaving millions uncertain about how they will afford groceries.
While courts have ordered the USDA to use emergency reserves to continue the program, logistical hurdles and funding shortfalls have slowed relief. Advocacy groups warn that families could face empty plates before the end of the week if Congress fails to reach a resolution.
Yet, against this backdrop of national anxiety and hunger, Donald Trump chose to spend Halloween in lavish style. On October 31, the president hosted a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The event featured gold-trimmed decorations, 1920s jazz music, champagne towers, and guests dressed in glittering flapper gowns and tuxedos.
According to guests and social media posts, Trump arrived to applause, greeting supporters beneath banners reading “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody.” Photos from the event show a roaring celebration — a scene that drew immediate backlash online and from political opponents.
“While millions of Americans worry about their next meal, the president is toasting himself under chandeliers,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom, calling the party “an insult to working families.”
News outlets including The Daily Beast and People Magazine described the gathering as “tone-deaf” and “Gatsby gone wrong,” contrasting its opulence with the worsening national crisis. Many critics pointed out the symbolic irony: the fictional Jay Gatsby’s parties represented excess amid poverty — a metaphor now uncomfortably real.
Supporters of Trump, however, defended the celebration. A campaign spokesperson told reporters that the president “deserves time to relax” and that Democrats are to blame for prolonging the shutdown by blocking spending negotiations. They argued that Trump has “urged Congress repeatedly” to restore funding but has been ignored for political reasons.
Still, for millions of Americans, that defense offers little comfort. With SNAP benefits suspended, food banks across the country are reporting record demand. Parents are skipping meals so their children can eat, and local charities say they are struggling to keep up with requests for emergency groceries.
Economists warn that if the shutdown continues beyond mid-November, it could trigger a cascading crisis affecting not only families but also local retailers who depend on SNAP spending.
As political tensions rise in Washington, the image of a glittering Gatsby ball in Palm Beach — while Americans face empty fridges — has become a defining snapshot of the growing divide between power and the people.
Watch video below :
