With household expenses dominating the political conversation ahead of the midterms, President Donald Trump spent Saturday night celebrating alongside wealthy guests at his Mar-a-Lago club. His comments about affluent partygoers came as Republicans faced mounting pressure over rising costs and unfavorable election forecasts.
Donald Trump’s Halloween party puts wealthy Mar-a-Lago members in the spotlight
Donald Trump hosted a jungle-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago rather than staying in Washington ahead of the elections. According to The New York Times, he looked around at the assembled guests and declared, “Look at all my rich members.” He also praised their elaborate preparations, telling reporters that some of Wall Street’s wealthiest figures had joined the gathering. Trump called them “The biggest guys on Wall Street.”
While guests reportedly spent hours preparing their costumes, Trump stuck with his familiar navy suit and red tie. He joked that he “came as Donald Trump.” Trump explained that he had only “10 minutes” to get ready, unlike attendees who had invested “nine hours” and money in their outfits. He returned repeatedly to the wealth of the people surrounding him.
Trump struck a sharper tone when the conversation turned to tensions with Iran. Asked by the publication if he intended to resume the war in the coming week, he fired back, “Why would you ask such a stupid question?” Reports had indicated that his administration was weighing fresh strikes in the first week of November, but the president offered no clear explanation of what might happen next.
Republicans face an uphill battle heading into the midterms, according to statistician Nate Silver’s latest projections. His analysis gives Democrats a 95% likelihood of capturing the House and a 76% shot at gaining control of the Senate.
Several factors weigh against the GOP, including Trump’s poor approval numbers, the historical tendency for the president’s party to lose ground in midterm elections, stronger practical support for Democrats and lingering voter frustration over rising gas prices (via The Daily Beast).
