Donald Trump Auctions Off Jesus Painting On New Year’s Eve

As Americans continue to voice concerns over the rising cost of living, US President Donald Trump rang in the new year in lavish style with a side of snark.

Trump threw a glitzy New Year’s Eve bash at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, during which he auctioned off a freshly painted portrait of Jesus Christ by artist Vanessa Horabuena for a staggering $2.75 million.

Before he hit that price, he mocked another equally staggering offer.

“He’s the biggest guy on Wall Street, so that’s peanuts,” the president said of one attendee who offered a bid of $1 million, as seen in Newsmax’s footage of the event. “Don’t let that red hat fool you. He wears that so that he sort of takes people by surprise before he pumps the money out of their wallets.”

As bidding continued, Trump pledged to sign the painting for anyone who offered a higher sum. Proceeds from the sale, he said, would go to St. Jude’s Hospital and the local sheriff’s office.

After a partygoer offered $2.75 million, Trump welcomed him on stage while joking that the man shouldn’t make the winning bid if it would require him to file for bankruptcy in the morning.

Trump also praised Horabuena, who describes herself as a “Christian Worship Artist,” as “one of the greatest” in the world.

“She can paint, slowly, a beautiful portrait for the White House, or she can paint the most incredible painting in literally 10 minutes,” he said, according to The Guardian.

Trump has hosted New Year’s Eve parties at Mar-a-Lago for years. Wednesday night’s attendees reportedly included former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and filmmaker Brett Ratner, who directed the upcoming documentary “Melania” about first lady Melania Trump.

The event comes as prominent Republicans have signalled their concerns about this year’s midterms in November. Trump’s handling of the economy has been cited as a top issue among many voters.

In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal published Monday, veteran Republican Party strategist Karl Rove suggested Trump was tied to a losing strategy.

“There are signs that the public is tiring of his hyperbole and insatiable desire for retribution,” he wrote. “Increasingly, they may hear only the offensive or cruel things he says.”

He went on to note: “Presidents do best when they underpromise and overdeliver. The opposite — overpromising and underdelivering — angers voters. They often take out their anger at the ballot box.”