The Daily Populous Sunday November 9th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by independent.co.uk and submitted by T_Shurt

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President Donald Trump has attended his second extravagant party at Mar-a-Lago in a week as tens of thousands of federal employees go without pay, leaving some of them, and many more Americans, to turn to food banks amid the longest government shutdown in history.

Images of the president were shared by guests on social media Friday at the lavish event which featured a three-course menu of beef filet, truffle dauphinoise, pan-seared scallops and a trio of desserts including “Trump chocolate cake.”

Trump was seen dining at a table surrounded by MAGA supporters, and posing with his thumbs up next to women in ballgowns. The event also featured ice sculptures and an opera performance.

Around the same time Friday, the Trump administration was allowed to continue only partially funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after an order from the Supreme Court blocked the decision of a lower court which had required the government to fully fund SNAP, otherwise known as food stamps.

SNAP funds, which are distributed by the federal government to states each month, support the nation’s largest anti-hunger program. The funding freeze has left some 42 million Americans who rely on the program facing delays to critical payments.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump boards Air Force One Friday on his way to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach for a lavish party, amid the government shutdown ( AP )

Food pantries across the country are warning that they are not prepared to support the millions of families that rely on government assistance.

Tens of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or are being forced to work without pay, with many long-serving civil servants turning to food banks, according to reports.

“I used to be a grants administrator, administrator of grants across the federal government, giving assistance, and now I’m in line requesting assistance,” federal worker, Anthony Speight, told NBC News as he attended a food bank in Washington D.C., adding that he “never thought” he would be put in this position.

The Mar-a-Lago bash was the second Friday in a row that the president has spent celebrating at his private Palm Beach club surrounded by MAGA supporters.

The Independent has contacted The White House for comment.

open image in gallery The Mar-a-Lago bash was the second Friday in a row that the president has spent celebrating at his private Palm Beach club surrounded by MAGA supporters ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery Trump at a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago last weekend. He attended a second lavish event at his Florida club on Friday night ( REUTERS )

Trump also threw a lavish Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party last weekend, hours before the SNAP program initially lost its funding.

At that event, the president was photographed surrounded by guests in Roaring 20s-style getup.

“Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby party while SNAP benefits were about to disappear for 42 million Americans,” said California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in a post on X. “He does not give a damn about you.”

open image in gallery California Governor Gavin Newsom once again posted this AI-generated image of President Donald Trump as Marie Antoinette. His press office captioned the post: “GOOD NIGHT, PEASANTS” ( X/@GovPressOffice )

On Saturday, Newsom again shared an AI-generated image portraying Trump as France’s Marie Antoinette - symbolizing selfish luxury while people go hungry. His press office captioned the post: “GOOD NIGHT, PEASANTS!”

Video of the event on November 7, obtained by The Daily Beast, showed the president sitting with Fox News’ anchor Bret Baier. Earlier this week, Baier interviewed the president and confronted him with concerns from a voter, who begged him to “please do something” about rising food costs.

Other high-profile guests reportedly included the actor Kevin Sorbo, country music singer Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany, and British politician Nigel Farage, who is known for his aggressive anti-immigration stance.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump talks on his phone Friday in Marine One at Joint Base Andrews en route to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida ( AP )

Trump’s trip to Palm Beach comes after he demanded that senators stay in Washington D.C. over the weekend to hash out a deal to end the government shutdown, which is in its 39th day and the longest in history.

“The United States Senate should not leave town until they have a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown,” he wrote on Truth Social Friday. “If they can’t reach a Deal, the Republicans should terminate the Filibuster, IMMEDIATELY, and take care of our Great American Workers!”

open image in gallery A boy dressed as Batman waits in line outside the Adams County Emergency Food Bank, weeks into the continuing government shutdown, in Commerce City, Colorado ( REUTERS )

open image in gallery Members of the National Guard pack food at a Los Angeles Regional Food Bank facility. While the shutdown continues multiple federal workers have been forced to work with no pay and aid programs have run out of money ( REUTERS )

As the president took off for Florida on Air Force One Friday evening, travel chaos was ramping up for millions of Americans.

More than 1,500 flights were canceled Saturday, and thousands more were delayed, as the Federal Aviation Administration reduced air traffic at terminals across the country due to the government shutdown.

N3wAfrikanN0body on November 9th, 2025 at 10:30 UTC »

Displays of opulence only reveals that super rich as tacky.

All that money, power and status but STILL can't afford class.

OldSchoolBubba on November 9th, 2025 at 10:25 UTC »

The whole point of Trump's great banquet hall extention of the White House is so he can hold his lavish extravaganzas there at our taxpayers expense.

All he has to do is walk over there instead of taking jets in full public view which is a great way to hide his failing health.

2HDFloppyDisk on November 9th, 2025 at 10:16 UTC »

"Some of you may die, but that's a sacrifice I am willing to make"