Palm beach: US President Donald Trump faced heavy criticism for hosting a Halloween party at his private mansion just days before millions of Americans missed food aid due to the federal government shutdown that began on October 1.
According to Thai News Agency, the party, held on the night of October 31 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, was themed “A little party never killed nobody,” referencing a song from the 2016 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. The event’s timing drew ire as the government shutdown led to disruptions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin accused Trump of being indifferent to Americans who were missing out on SNAP benefits, focusing instead on himself and his affluent acquaintances. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut also criticized the event, sharing photos on social media and expressing shock at what he described as an inhumane display towards the American populace. In response, a White House spokesman dismissed the criticism, stating that Democrats could have acted to reopen the government but had failed to do so.
Amid the controversy, a federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary order on October 31, mandating the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP after multiple states filed lawsuits. Meanwhile, a judge in Boston found the government’s attempt to withhold SNAP funding unlawful, although no immediate order was made to resume funding.
President Trump stated that government lawyers were uncertain about the legal authority to allocate SNAP funds during the shutdown. He mentioned seeking clarification from courts and expressed willingness to allocate the funds if a legal directive was provided, similar to how funds were allocated to the military and law enforcement.