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.

Photo: Instagram/flotus
Photo: Instagram/flotus

“NYE Mar a Lago. We miss you POTUS,” read an Instagram post from Paolo Zampolli, the United Nations ambassador of Dominica.

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The ambassador’s official account posted another photo of himself and Brazilian model wife Amanda Ungaro with FLOTUS.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk also posted a photo of himself crouching behind a seated Trump as they smiled for the camera.

View this post on Instagram

Happy New Year everybody

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.

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Sparkling black certainly seems like a more subdued, traditional dress choice for the occasion.

View this post on Instagram

New Year 2019! MIA

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.