A wish for "world peace," an endorsement of tariffs and $2.75 million for a painting of Jesus capped the public's peek intoPresident Donald Trump'sopulent New Year's Eve gala at Mar-a-Lago.
The president arrived at the aptly named Donald J. Trump ballroom at the Palm Beach club he has owned for 40 years just before 9 p.m. along withfirst lady Melania Trump, who was dressed in a shimmering, silver full-length dress. The first couple walked along a black carpet with "Happy New Year Mar-a-Lago" written in gold lettering and stopped before a platoon of reporters.
Asked what if he had a New Year's resolution, the president said "world peace," but then ignored questions about areported CIA strike at a coastal facility in Venezuelaearlier this week or possible U.S. military involvement in Ukraine.
On stage, the president praised the management of the country in the first 11 months of this non-consecutive second term.
"We're taking in hundreds of millions of dollars in tariffs," the president said, and again promised $1,776 checks to military service members. "We're doing great as a country. We're back. We're strong. I didn't think it could happen this fast. It's happening faster than anybody thought possible."
Former Trump legal adviser Rudy Giuliani was in attendance along with Homeland Security SecretaryKristi Noem.
The president then presided over the auction of a painting of Jesus Christ's face by artist Vanessa Horabuena. Trump said proceeds would go to St. Jude Children's Hospital and a sheriff's department, but did not specify if it would be the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office.
The president began the bidding at $100,000 but did not offer a bid thereafter.
When one bidder offered $1 million, Trump responded "he's the biggest guy on Wall Street."
The painting sold for $2.75 million.
The evening followed an active day for Trump on social media in what was a seemingly stream of consciousness on an eclectic if not random mix of topics.
The president fired off more than 10 posts, including ones that called Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz "crooked" and alleged that 90% of the purported fraud in the state has been perpetrated by "people that came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia." Still, Trump also predicted there is "more FRAUD in California" than in Minnesota.
Speaking of the Golden State, the president also claimed "California and Colorado are two of the TOP OUTBOUND STATES IN 2025" for people seeking to move to other states.
Trump denigrated Democrats as a "bunch of cheaters and thieves" in a post calling for voter identification. And he demanded fellow Republicans give "No more money to Fat Cat Insurance Companies."
The president also stated that his administration's tariff policies "singularly" fueled "a World Record on investments," totaling "Trillions of Dollars more than" what China reaped.
Trump praised the Border Patrol for doing a "fantastic job" and stated he is "so proud that more than half are of Hispanic heritage."
"There is no group I am more proud of than Border Patrol and ICE, and nobody understands the Border better than our fantastic Hispanic population, which continues to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote.
The president also posted that he is "removing the National Guardfrom Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland."
"We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!" he wrote.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him atafins@pbpost.com.Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post:Trump touts economy, auctions painting at Mar-a-Lago New Year's gala
