President Donald Trump is heading to Miami on Wednesday — the anniversary of his reelection to a second term — to speak to a forum of business leaders and global athletes hosted at the Kaseya Center.
Read on for more on the America Business Forum, the headlining speakers and what traffic detours you can expect around the Miami area.
What and where is the America Business Forum?
The America Business Forum takes place Nov. 5-6, at the Kaseya Center, marking the first time the event is held in the United States. Nearly 30,000 attendees are expected alongside a global livestream audience.
“Global leaders, cultural figures and innovators converge in Miami for a two-day forum that brings together voices shaping business, entertainment and technology on a worldwide scale,” the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau states.
Organizers have described the forum as a more accessible version of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, or the Milken Institute Global Conference, which gathers the world’s elite for discussions on the economy.
Who will speak at the forum?
According to the forum’s website, featured speakers will include Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, Lionel Messi, Will Smith, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, Citadel founder Ken Griffin and WeWork founder Adam Neumann.
Are there still tickets available to the event?
Tickets are open to the public and still available for lower bowl and upper bowl access. See them here.
Traffic detours
Expect delays around Miami International Airport and the Dolphin Expressway on Wednesday, as Trump’s arrival is expected between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
On-and-off road closures in downtown Miami by the Kaseya Center will be in effect throughout both days.
What will Trump talk about?
The president’s speech to the American Business Forum will be a broad look at his economic agenda and how investments he has secured abroad help U.S. communities, according to a senior White House official. It’s a significant effort from Trump to put a positive spin on the economy at a time when Americans remain uneasy about the state of their finances and the cost of living — and when major campaigns in Tuesday’s election were centered on affordability and the economy.
The AP Voter Poll survey, which included more than 17,000 voters in New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City, suggested the public was troubled by higher prices and fewer job opportunities despite Trump’s promises to tame inflation and unleash growth.
In his speech, Trump will touch on deregulation, energy independence and oil prices, and affordability, said the White House official, who was granted anonymity to preview the president’s address.
Trump spent five days in Asia last week with stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. He worked to ease trade tensions with Beijing in a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In Tokyo, he promoted several major energy and tech projects for the U.S. that will be funded by Japan.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said he thinks Trump’s recent travels “have been transformational in his presidency” and said his speech will be a highlight of the forum.
“This conference not only is creating this incredible collection of people, but it’s also creating them in a particular moment in time,” said Suarez, a Republican.
Miami area plays key role
Trump’s visit also highlights how the Miami area is playing a key role during his second term.
Trump is set to host leaders of the world’s leading rich and developing economies at next year’s Group of 20 summit at his golf club at the nearby city of Doral, despite what critics say is the appearance of impropriety.
Trump’s sons have taken over running the Trump Organization while their father is in the White House, and the president has insisted that his family’s business will not make any money by holding the summit at the golf club.
The city is where Trump wants to locate his future presidential library, which is now facing a legal challenge over whether the plot of land in downtown Miami is being properly transferred. Miami is also one of the U.S. host cities for next year’s World Cup, which Trump has eagerly promoted as the kickoff to several major global sporting events for which the U.S. is playing host. Ensuring the success of the World Cup has been a top priority for the Trump administration.