Melania Trump shares rare selfie
As her husband rang in the New Year in the White House, Melania Trump celebrated as planned at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, attending the resort’s annual New Year’s Eve party.
The only semi-official photo from the event is a selfie from the first lady herself shared on social media, but posts from guests at the $1,000-a-head event show her beaming in a sparkling, long-sleeve dress with a plunging neckline.
#HappNewYear2019 ✨ pic.twitter.com/zvR9YqjNB3
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 1, 2019
“NYE Mar a Lago. We miss you POTUS,” read an Instagram post from Paolo Zampolli, the United Nations ambassador of Dominica.
The ambassador’s official account posted another photo of himself and Brazilian model wife Amanda Ungaro with FLOTUS.
A post shared by AMB PAOLO ZAMPOLLI (@ambassadorzampolli) on Jan 1, 2019 at 6:59am PST
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk also posted a photo of himself crouching behind a seated Trump as they smiled for the camera.
A post shared by Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk1776) on Dec 31, 2018 at 8:01pm PST
The black dress bucked a Melania Trump trend noted by InStyle.
The first lady has worn a pale pink dress to at least three other Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve parties in 2000, 2002 and 2017.
Sparkling black certainly seems like a more subdued, traditional dress choice for the occasion.
A post shared by Amanda Ungaro (@amandazungaro) on Dec 31, 2018 at 9:52pm PST
The Mar-a-Lago event has come under scrutiny during the government shutdown as 800,000 federal employees don’t know when they’ll get their next paycheck.
The ticket price went up from $750 to $1,000 this year.
Meanwhile, Quartz reported that the federal government paid $54,000 for security tents to be used during winter parties at the Palm Beach resort, as well as $41,250 for lights and generators.