Donald and Melania Trump Leaving last year’s grand gala in the wake of his electoral defeat, he returned to the New Year’s Eve party in Mar-a-Lago.
Sources close to the former president told DailyMail.com on Friday that he was expected to attend this year’s black-tie gathering and that attendees posted shots of the former first couple at the gala before midnight.
Trump was in a tuxedo, with wife Melania in a silver gown.
Several other Trumpworld favorites were in attendance, including former . was also involved New York City Trump’s Mayor and Attorney rudy giulianiMILF Congressman Matt Getz – who attended despite his ongoing sex trafficking investigation with his fiancée Ginger Luckey – and son Eric, who was with wife Lara and their children.
Donald and Melania Trump leave last year’s grand gala in the wake of their election defeat and return to a New Year’s Eve party in Mar-a-Lago (pictured)
Smiling former President Trump greets guests at Mar-a-Lago resort
Several other Trumpworld favorites were in attendance, including former New York City mayor and attorney for Trump Rudy Giuliani.
Eric Trump and his wife Lara say goodbye to their kids before attending Eric’s father’s New Year’s Eve gala
Matt Getz and his fiancée Ginger attend the Lucky Gala, despite Getz’s ongoing sex trafficking investigation
Eric and Lara enjoying the Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve festivities with Eric’s father
Trump was going to attend last year, but when he was in Palm Beach for the holiday season, he changed his mind and was expected to drop by the gala, as he usually does.
Instead, in an unusual move, the former first couple opted to return to Washington DC on December 31 and skip the party, where guests paid $1,000 for tickets.
They returned to the White House, where Trump focused on the upcoming certification of Joe Biden’s election victory in Congress, following the approval of MAGA supporters by the Capitol on January 6, who attacked the building in an attempt to disrupt the process. Had raided.
Donald and Melania Trump had a Christmas Eve dinner at Mar a Lago last week
The Former President and First Lady Had Dinner With Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump on Christmas Eve
Ivanka Trump holds her hand around Jared Kushner (left) as President Trump talks to a guest
For Christmas dinner, Melania Trump wore the $7,450 Elie Saab dress she wore to a NATO meeting in Belgium in July 2018 (above)
Donald and Melania Trump, in a tradition that preceded their presidency, are spending the cold-weather months at their Palm Beach club with their Atlantic Ocean views.
Trump had a Christmas Eve dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where he dined with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. The couple sat alone at a table in the main ballroom of the private club.
Images and videos posted on social media show Trump received a standing ovation as he walked from the ballroom to the table where Jared and Ivanka were waiting for him.
Unlike when he was president, the table was not separated from the rest of the guests.
Former President Trump greets the crowd as he leaves his place. Both Melania and Ivanka wore white dresses for the festive occasion. Melania wore the same $7,450 Elie Saab dress she wore to a NATO meeting in Belgium in July 2018.
The New Year’s Eve gala comes as Florida, like much of the country, sees a massive spike in COVID cases as the highly-contagious Omicron edition gathers steam.
In the last seven days, the state has added an average of 26,537 cases per day Miami Herald Calculation of CDC data. The seven-day rolling average is the highest since August 23, when it stood at 29,334.
On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who clashed with Trump during the COVID pandemic, recommended against large gatherings on New Year’s Eve.
‘If your plan is to go to a 40 to 50 person New Year’s Eve party with all the bells and whistles and everyone hugging and kissing each other and wishing each other a Happy New Year? I strongly recommend that, this year, we don’t do that,’ Fauci said.
Mar-a-Lago’s main ballroom – with its white paneling and gold-plated decor – can hold 700 people and there are smaller ballrooms available to add to the size of the crowd.
Social media postings show that the ballroom was crowded with guests for Christmas and that the man was wearing a face mask. Florida recommends but does not require face masks for the general public.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a close ally of Trump who has dined at Mar-a-Lago several times, is defiant about the recommended COVID restrictions. He issued an executive order on May 3 prohibiting local governments and school systems from imposing COVID-19 restrictions, including face mask rules.
Donald Trump arrived at Christmas dinner
Trump gave his signature thumbs up sign; Jared Kushner is sitting at the table behind him
Donald and Melania Trump missed last year’s New Year’s Eve, return to Washington DC on December 31, 2020
New Year’s 2020: Melania listens as Trump speaks at his New Year’s Eve December 31, 2019 – Ringing in 2020
The New Year’s Eve tradition at Mar-a-Lago dates back years to the former president.
The black-tie gala is the highlight of the private club’s social calendar. Trump enjoys working in the room, talking to guests and posing for selfies.
At last New Year’s Eve parties, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are joined by their kids. Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend Kimberly Gilfoy usually appear alongside Eric Trump and Lara Trump as Tiffany Trump and her fiancé Michael Bolos.
Prominent Trump friends like Rudy Giuliani and Rep. Matt Getz have also made appearances.
,