Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, was spotted mingling with none other than Donald Trump at a lavish Halloween bash at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The billionaire mining magnate, known for her unwavering support of the embattled US president, was seen in a social media post chatting with Trump as he read from a piece of paper. This weekend's festivities, described by Trump's former attorney Jeanine Pirro as a 1920s-themed 'Great Gatsby' party, also brought together other high-profile guests including Marco Rubio and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
Hanson was reportedly absent from the upper house in Australia due to her scheduled absence in the US. Her office declined to confirm whether she attended Trump's party or not, fueling speculation about her involvement with the president. The timing of the event couldn't have been more coincidental, coming as it did amidst a US federal government shutdown and Trump's attempts to cut funding for an organization providing food assistance to approximately 42 million Americans.
Trump has been vocal in his stance against the shutdown, writing on Truth Social that he doesn't want Americans to go hungry. The billionaire president has also announced plans to build a $300m ballroom in the White House, funded by wealthy donors - a move reminiscent of Marie Antoinette's infamous phrase 'let them eat cake'. Rinehart has been vocal about her support for Trump-style policies, even going so far as to encourage the Liberal party in Australia to adopt similar approaches.
In May, Rinehart made headlines with a lengthy statement on social media, where she attributed the Coalition's election loss to the party's alleged failure to follow Trump-like policies. She claimed that the 'left media' had driven away Liberals from embracing such ideas and instead labeled them as a 'me too' party. Her views have sparked controversy, with some questioning her motives for supporting Trump-style governance in Australia.
Hanson was reportedly absent from the upper house in Australia due to her scheduled absence in the US. Her office declined to confirm whether she attended Trump's party or not, fueling speculation about her involvement with the president. The timing of the event couldn't have been more coincidental, coming as it did amidst a US federal government shutdown and Trump's attempts to cut funding for an organization providing food assistance to approximately 42 million Americans.
Trump has been vocal in his stance against the shutdown, writing on Truth Social that he doesn't want Americans to go hungry. The billionaire president has also announced plans to build a $300m ballroom in the White House, funded by wealthy donors - a move reminiscent of Marie Antoinette's infamous phrase 'let them eat cake'. Rinehart has been vocal about her support for Trump-style policies, even going so far as to encourage the Liberal party in Australia to adopt similar approaches.
In May, Rinehart made headlines with a lengthy statement on social media, where she attributed the Coalition's election loss to the party's alleged failure to follow Trump-like policies. She claimed that the 'left media' had driven away Liberals from embracing such ideas and instead labeled them as a 'me too' party. Her views have sparked controversy, with some questioning her motives for supporting Trump-style governance in Australia.