Shortly before welcoming the new year alongside First Lady Melania Trump at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US President Donald Trump wished for “peace on Earth.” The First Lady of the United States stunned in a shimmering silver dress and dazzling elegant shoes that stole the spotlight at the New Year’s celebration event. Wearing a tuxedo, Donald Trump briefly stood outside the club’s ballroom and spoke with reporters, while his wife Melania stood by his side.
“I want to do something really special,” President Donald Trump said as the presentation began. “This is something very different.” Wednesday evening at the Donald J. Trump Grand Ballroom didn’t start quite so unconventionally. The party initially resembled a typical New Year’s event at the president’s luxury resort in Palm Beach. Rudy Giuliani was there, wearing a white jacket. White candles illuminated the tables, while guests chatted around the pool before moving into the ballroom, which Trump plans to recreate in the White House.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇱 Trump celebrates New Year’s with Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. pic.twitter.com/GI6xGPWxkb
— 👑 SHAIKH 👑 (@azharfru1) January 1, 2026
The cold weather, which for South Florida means temperatures around 12-13 degrees Celsius, filled the venue with fur coats. Musicians, elevated on black platforms, repeatedly played the US national anthem and “God Bless America.”
Trump’s New Year’s celebration
Before walking on the black carpet with the inscription “Happy New Year Mar-a-Lago,” Trump greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, who had returned to the club following an invitation from the president.
Netanyahu, who met with Trump on Monday in Palm Beach, appeared alongside the American president wearing a tuxedo as captured in images circulating online.
During their December 29 meeting focused on developments in Gaza and the Middle East, Trump had hinted that Netanyahu might attend the New Year’s party he was organizing.
Earlier during the week, the American president denied reports suggesting tension between himself and Netanyahu regarding the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that Israel has “respected” its commitments and now the responsibility lies with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
The event was also attended by the president’s eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as the president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.
Among the guests were government officials and close allies of Donald Trump, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Washington prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, Republican congressman from Minnesota Tom Emmer, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, and Ambassador Sergio Gor.
Trump has been hosting New Year’s at Mar-a-Lago for more than 20 years. Ticket prices increased significantly during his first term, reaching $1,000 (just over 800 euros) a few years ago and now costing $1,450 (approximately 1,200 euros). The amount includes a predetermined menu and the opportunity to see the world’s most powerful man dine from behind a velvet rope.
In the past, the party has attracted celebrity guests such as Martha Stewart, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Rod Stewart. This year, among others, attendees included Emirati billionaire Hussein Sajwani, Hollywood producer Brett Ratner, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and former television host Jeanine Pirro.
Trump’s wish
Trump appeared unusually calm as he passed the cameras and entered the ballroom with the First Lady, who wore a metallic silver dress. When asked about his New Year’s wish, he replied: “Peace on Earth.”
Earlier in the day, he had attacked governors, actors, and Democrats through social media, while in the evening he also referenced allegations of fraud in Minnesota daycare centers.
“We’ll get to the bottom of it. It was a massive fraud,” he said. “Otherwise, we’ll have a wonderful new year.”
Also appearing on New Year’s Eve was billionaire from the United Arab Emirates Hussein Sajwani, who earlier in the year had announced his intention to invest $20 billion in data centers in the United States. However, when it came time for the main spectacle, the atmosphere changed.
“There’s a young woman called Vanessa and she’s one of the greatest artists in the world,” he told the audience. “She can paint a beautiful portrait slowly or create an incredible painting in just 10 minutes.”
The artist, Vanessa Horabuena, took the stage and began painting quickly on a large black canvas, while the band played a slow version of “Hallelujah.”
Trump watched carefully. Ten minutes later, the face of Jesus had formed before the guests’ eyes.
“I don’t know how you do that,” the president said, before starting the auction at $100,000. Half the proceeds, he noted, would go to St. Jude Hospital and the remainder to the local sheriff’s office.
Bids climbed quickly: $200,000, $500,000, $550,000. Eventually, the artwork sold for just under $3 million. Trump called the couple who won the auction to the stage. “We’re going to have fun tonight,” he told them, pointing to the husband. “Get his number!”
