President Donald Trump rang in the New Year at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, by presiding over a charity auction at which he sold off a portrait of Jesus Christ for $2.75 million.
Clearly enjoying himself hosting the black tie gala, Trump said the money raised from the work, which was painted live at the event in around 10 minutes by “Christian worship artist” and Instagram celebrity Vanessa Horabuena, would be donated to St. Jude’s Hospital and the local sheriff’s office.
After Horabuena had completed her opus, she wielded her brushes against a black canvas in dramatic fashion. At the same time, the band on stage played a slow version of “Hallelujah,” Trump marvelled: “I don’t know how you do that… These people are loaded with cash, just so you know.”
Opening the bidding at $100,000, he soon accepted a $1 million offer. He ribbed the unidentified would-be buyer by saying he was “the biggest guy on Wall Street”, that the amount represented “peanuts” to him and that, because he wears a red MAGA cap, he habitually takes “people by surprise before he pumps the money out of their wallets.”