California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on social media: “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.”
Newsom, a former mayor of San Francisco and current second-term governor, has become one of the Democratic Party’s most visible critics of Trump. He often uses his platform to highlight economic inequality and what he sees as Republican hypocrisy on working-class issues.
The criticism followed a flashy Halloween party held by President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, just hours before millions of Americans lost access to food assistance due to the ongoing government shutdown, according to ABC News.
Lavish Celebration As Benefits Expired
On Friday, Oct. 31, Trump hosted a “Great Gatsby”-themed event at his Florida resort.
The White House described the party with the phrase, “A little party never killed nobody,” referencing a popular song from the 2013 movie adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.
Guests arrived in roaring 1920s fashion, including flapper dresses and tuxedos.
Notable attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Tiffany Trump, and Michael Boulos.
Photographers captured Trump chatting with guests, including one dressed in a prison costume.
The celebration happened during an ongoing government shutdown that put SNAP benefits for millions at risk. Roughly 42 million Americans faced losing access to food aid.
Democrats Slam Timing And Optics
Newsom’s post drew a wave of criticism from Democrats. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement, “Last night, Trump made it even clearer that he doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself and his wealthy friends.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) shared a photo from the event on social media and added, “The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans’ face never ceases to stun me.”
MSNBC’s Morning Joe panel blasted the event as out of touch.
Joe Scarborough, co-host of Morning Joe described it as a show of “obliviousness.”
Panelists also raised concerns about the Trump family’s business dealings, especially in crypto, and the lack of financial transparency.
White House Defends Trump
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded to the backlash: “These Democrats are full of it. President Trump has consistently called on them to do the right thing and reopen the government, which they could do at any time.”
Trump posted on Truth Social that his administration was seeking legal clarity from the courts about funding SNAP.
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” he wrote.
A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary order for SNAP funding to continue, while a judge in Boston found the Trump administration’s halt of SNAP unlawful but stopped short of forcing an immediate restart.
Critics Call It Tone-Deaf
The Great Gatsby is widely seen as a critique of wealth and class division in the U.S., making its use as a party theme especially controversial.
“I’m going to hazard a guess that President Trump hasn’t read the book,” said co-host Jonathan Lemire on Morning Joe. “It turns out he knows how it turned out.”
As the shutdown stretches on, the visual of Trump celebrating in opulence while millions face food insecurity has only intensified scrutiny.
Critics say the party sent a clear message about who the president is prioritizing, and who he’s leaving behind.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Gavin Newsom” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.