On New Year's Eve, Donald Trump hosted a celebration at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where he auctioned a live-painted portrait of Jesus Christ by artist Vanessa Horabuena for $2.75 million. The auction commenced with a starting bid of $100,000, and Trump indicated that half of the proceeds would support St. Jude's Children's Hospital, while the other half would be allocated to the local sheriff's department.

The event attracted several notable attendees, including former adviser Rudy Giuliani, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani. Tickets for the gala were priced at $1,450.

During the event, Trump expressed a desire for "peace on Earth" amid inquiries regarding a reported CIA-directed strike in Venezuela. This New Year's celebration is part of a longstanding tradition for Trump, dating back at least two decades.

In addition to the auction, Trump engaged in discussions on social media, criticizing various political figures and asserting that significant fraud had occurred in multiple states, including California and New York. He claimed that ongoing investigations would reveal substantial financial misconduct, framing it as a critical issue for his administration moving forward. The gathering occurred against a backdrop of concerns among Republicans regarding the upcoming midterm elections, particularly focusing on economic issues and Trump's management of the economy, which have been highlighted as significant factors influencing voter sentiment.