Donald Trump speaking at the America Business Forum event in Miami. The intense two-day event was the brainchild of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. The conference’s main goal was to highlight the myriad of investment opportunities available in South Florida. It was able to draw a sparkling array of business heavyweights and deep pocketed boosters.
The food justice conference had an exceptional slate of speakers. Among them were new billionaires from Saudi Arabia and household-name American tycoons such as Jeff Bezos and Ken Griffin. Though tickets were up to $1,990, it brought together an engagingly diverse crowd. Super cool young professionals packed the house to talk about attracting and capitalizing on quality business and investment to the region.
In form and substance, Trump’s hour-long address was closer to a political rally than a traditional state-of-the-business speech. He took full advantage to take shots at his former political enemies. Among them songbirds were Chuck Schumer, Gavin Newsom and the recently elected democratic socialist mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani. The stage crackled with electricity as fired-up fans stomped and clapped, shouting their approval for Trump. Most of them had privileged upbringings, which only heightened the drama.
Suarez explained the event’s intent by stating, “We wanted it to be a sort of a cross-section from different verticals, right? People from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different genders … sports, business, politics, technology, things that touch everyone’s lives.”
The celebratory mood extended throughout the forum. Yet, it happened in a county where close to a quarter of the households rely on SNAP benefits to make ends meet. This contrast highlights the glaring economic inequality in the region. After recently experiencing some of the most significant cuts in federal food assistance in history, affecting over 42 million Americans including 3 million Floridians.
Trump addressed these issues directly, asserting, “The radical left Democrats are causing millions of Americans who depend on food stamps to go without benefits.” His comments resonated with all of his supporters. They illuminated the worsening disparity between the wealth on display at the event and the hardship so many Floridians are suffering.
Larry Hannan, a local commenter, provided particularly penetrating critiques on the event’s tone and legitimate implications. He remarked on the disconnect between attendees and everyday people, stating, “There’s just a massive cognitive dissonance between what real people are going through, and the elite.”
Hannan acknowledged that billionaires such as Bezos don’t need the help. At the same time, countless families are losing their ability to afford basic necessities. “Jeff Bezos does not need a $50 food card,” he said. He pointed to occurrences such as the America Business Forum. Per his words, they’re elitists, disconnected from the everyday life and challenges of regular people.
With those words, Trump had taken the audience’s breath away. High-profile speakers like Jamie Dimon, Adam Neumann, and world-famous soccer player Lionel Messi graced the stage. Doubtless he was inspired by FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino, who suggested handing Trump the organization’s inaugural peace prize. That possible award would further complicate Trump’s public face. Mike is deftly able to operate in the business side as well as the political side of this equation.
The conference generated lots of interest and discussion about these and other fascinating events headed to Miami. Attendees were excitedly tuning into highlights such as the Formula One Grand Prix and the 2026 World Cup. Notably, Trump’s Doral golf resort is set to host the G20 economic summit in 2026, further embedding him in the region’s economic landscape.
Suarez expressed hope that the event would inspire attendees, saying, “Our hope is that Miamians are transformed by the experience. We want them to leave thinking, ‘I can be on that stage’.” Their aim was to equip residents from all backgrounds and industries to take advantage of Miami’s growing economic prospects.
Opponents argue that these types of convenings can miss the mark at addressing the challenge and needs of residents most in need. Hannan addressed the importance of leaders like Suarez to prioritize the needs of Floridians over projects. It is past time to stop just parading the wealth and privilege.
“Any civics teacher would tell you it’s his job to look after the people of Florida, and he’s doing the exact opposite.” – Larry Hannan
Debate over the economic divide and land sale opportunities in South Florida continues. The 2023 America Business Forum exemplifies the difficulty of bridging elite conferences and summits with the real-world issues affecting the lives of countless Americans.