Donald Trump rang in 2026 at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he auctioned a live-painted portrait of Jesus Christ for $2.75m (£2.2m). The president said his new year's resolution was 'peace on Earth' and that half the auction proceeds would go to St Jude's children's hospital, with the rest going to the local sheriff's department.
The portrait was painted on stage by artist Vanessa Horabuena, whom Trump described as 'one of the greatest artists anywhere in the world'. He opened the bidding at $100,000 and the painting sold to a woman in a top hat. The event, broadcast on Newsmax, featured a slow rendition of Hallelujah as the artist worked.
Among the revellers were former adviser Rudy Giuliani, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani, director Brett Ratner, House Republican Tom Emmer, and attorney general Jeanine Pirro. Tickets for the gala cost $1,450.
Earlier in the day, Trump posted a series of social media messages attacking Colorado Governor Jared Polis, actor George Clooney, and Democrats, while praising his tariff policies. He also mentioned an investigation into social services fraud in Minnesota, saying, 'They stole $18bn... that's peanuts. And California is worse, Illinois is worse, and, sadly, New York is worse.'
