MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - President Donald Trump spoke at the Future Investment Initiative Institute Miami 2025 summit — a gathering of global business leaders, investors and policymakers in Miami Beach — after he played golf at his Doral resort in a daylong South Florida visit that led to gridlock on the roads and traffic delays at the height of the evening rush.
The president departed Palm Beach International Airport Wednesday morning and landed at Miami International Airport at around 9 a.m. He was seen with his golf shoes on as he got into his motorcade, which took him to Trump National Doral Miami.
Supporters lined the streets near the golf resort, cheering and waving as Trump’s motorcade drove by.
“It’s something big and exciting. I love it. I love this president,” said a woman.
Trump is attending the event being put on by Saudi Arabia’s investment fund at the Faena Hotel. He spoke at the event for just over an hour and a half.
The conference, which kicked off Wednesday and wraps up Friday, brings together hundreds of investors and leaders from around the globe, as well as heavy traffic.
Just after 5 p.m., 7News captured a large crowd at the entrance of the Faena Hotel as they awaited the president’s arrival.
During his speech, Trump mentioned Elon Musk, who was seated in the front row as the commander in chief praised controversial cost-cutting measures the the Musk has taken in an attempt to trim the size of the federal government.
“Elon Musk. He’s been making a little news lately, hasn’t he, though?” said Trump.
Miami Beach Police warned residents to expect traffic delays and road closures in the mid-Beach area as the president’s safety is top priority while he’s in town.
“People can expect to feel severe delays in the Middle Beach district,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess.
While officials said the area most impacted will be the mid-Beach area, drivers can expected gridlock to be felt throughout.
“From 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., people can expect to observe hard traffic closures and intermediate closures as well,” said Bess. “This is for safety purposes; we will have resources out there to best mitigate these traffic plans, and we encourage everyone to plan accordingly.”
Parking was also off limits between 30th and 41st streets.
Wednesday’s event comes amid rising tensions with Ukraine.
Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to share a long-winded post where he took shots at Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The president wrote: “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”
Trump addressed the matter during his speech at the convention.
“President Zelenskyy talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that basically couldn’t be won,” he said.
The remarks come one day after Trump falsely claimed that Ukraine started the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. He said that after Zelenskyy criticized Trump for not inviting Ukraine to talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats on Tuesday.
Zelenskyy said he had no knowledge of the talks.
“Ukraine perceives any negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine as those with no results,” he said through a translator.
Zelensky also took shots at Trump on Wednesday, saying he lives in a “disinformation space.”
During his speech at the convention, Trump also previewed more tariffs to come, a key component of his economic agenda.
“I’m going to be announcing tariffs on cars and semiconductors and chips, and pharmaceuticals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and lumber, probably, and some other things over the next month,” he said.
Trump was initially expected to return to MIA between 6:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., but he didn’t finish his address until around 7:10 p.m.
Drivers experienced delays on State Roads 112 and 836 before the commander in chief flew back to Washington, D.C. from MIA.
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