Former President Donald Trump ushered in the year 2026 by presiding over a high-stakes charity auction at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where a speed-painted portrait of Jesus Christ sold for a staggering $2.75 million.
A Dramatic Auction for Charity
The black-tie New Year's Eve event saw Trump introduce Vanessa Horabuena, an Instagram-famous Christian worship artist, to a crowd of guests who had paid $1,450 per ticket. Trump praised Horabuena as "one of the greatest living artists" before she created the painting live on stage in roughly ten minutes, her dramatic brushstrokes set to a slow rendition of "Hallelujah."
Clearly in his element, Trump opened the bidding at $100,000 and quickly spurred the action to a $1 million offer. He jovially teased the unidentified bidder, calling him "the biggest guy on Wall Street" for whom the sum was "peanuts." As rival offers pushed the price to $2.5 million, Trump pretended to mishear, asking, "$5 million or $2.5 million?" The final hammer fell at $2.75 million, with Trump quipping to the winner on stage about the risk of bankruptcy.
A Star-Studded Political Gathering
The exclusive gathering in the Donald J Trump Grand Ballroom was a who's who of political and influential figures. Trump was joined by First Lady Melania Trump in a silver gown. Notable guests included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Trump's attorney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Also in attendance were House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, former prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani, and film director Brett Ratner, who is working on a forthcoming documentary about Melania Trump.
Political Rhetoric Amidst Celebration
Prior to the auction, Trump set a political tone for the evening. He used his welcome address to attack Democratic leadership in Minnesota over fraud allegations and to boast about his reciprocal tariffs programme. He stated his New Year's resolution was to achieve "world peace," a pledge seemingly contradicted when he later avoided questions from The Palm Beach Post about U.S. actions in Venezuela and negotiations with Ukraine's President Zelensky over the Russian invasion.
Earlier on 31 December 2025, Trump had been active on his Truth Social platform, commenting on a range of issues from border security and "Fat Cat Insurance Companies" to actor George Clooney's French citizenship. He also ominously warned the cities of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland about his plan to withdraw National Guard troops, suggesting a return "in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again."
Proceeds from the record-breaking auction were designated for St. Jude's Hospital and the local sheriff's office, adding a philanthropic footnote to a night blending politics, wealth, and spectacle.
