Adventures of the ‘Rich and Un-Famous’, eh?
Since arriving in Palm Beach early on the morning of Dec. 20, Trump has shifted much of his governing to what supporters call the “winter White House,” hosting foreign leaders and advisers at the estate while also maintaining his regular golf schedule and social calendar. He has visited his nearby golf club 12 times in two weeks and hosted a New Year’s Eve party where guests bid $2.75 million on a live-painted portrait of Jesus. He has also conducted international diplomacy, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin and hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the club.
Hours after the shopping trip, he oversaw what he described as a “large scale strike” on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Trump called into “Fox & Friends” on Saturday morning, taking credit for the operation and praising the military efforts.
The arrangement reflects a governing style that collapses the boundaries of the presidency, Trump’s private business interests and his personal life, placing key moments of diplomacy and decision-making in a setting defined by access and loyalty rather than formal protocol. The scene recalls Trump’s transition period a year ago, when world leaders, business executives and supporters vying for a position in the administration made pilgrimages to the social club that emerged as the center of the political universe after his election victory.
Trump’s political opponents have seized on these displays of opulence, highlighting the stark contrast between the president’s holiday celebrations and the impact of the administration’s policies on American voters. As the new year began, the enhanced tax credits that have helped reduce the cost of health insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired.
“Trump is kicking poor kids off food aid and is throwing millions off their health care this month, but he and his billionaires get caviar and ice sculptures,” wrote Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) on X, reposting a video of a caviar station adorned with a “2026” ice sculpture recorded at Trump’s New Year’s Eve party.
The press office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom shared the same video on social media, noting that an estimated 17 million Americans would start getting kicked off their health insurance this year — punctuated with a party face emoji…
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Unlike official White House events, gatherings at Mar-a-Lago operate with fewer formal guardrails around disclosure, records and access, even as policy discussions and diplomatic encounters unfold there. The New Year’s Eve event convened top administration officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, alongside Hussain Sajwani, the Emirati businessman who has worked with Trump in the Middle East for years. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Trump’s sons who lead the family’s businesses, were also in attendance…..
image…Palm Beach Daily News…
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