President Trump skipped the Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve party, but that didn’t stop hundreds of maskless guests from packing up the ballroom and paying up to $ 1,000 for the privilege of seeing … Vanilla Ice .
Photos of the event posted on Instagram and Twitter also showed guests dancing, hugging and eating together at the gala, which apparently ignored local COVID-19 guidelines. The black tie event included well-known Republicans, such as Florida Representative Matt Gaetz Donald Trump Jr., and Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric and Lara Trump, and Rudy Giuliani.
Don Jr. he seemed particularly fascinated by a 90s rapper’s performance and accused domestic aggressor Vanilla Ice.
“Okay, that’s amazing,” Don Jr. wrote. in a Facebook post that included a video of what had been singing his hit “Ice, Ice Baby” as guests gathered dancing. “Vanilla Ice plays there [at] the New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago. When I was a kid in the 90s, you can’t understand how awesome it is. Beyond that, I got the birthday scream, so it’s pretty amazing. “
The Palm Beach Post reported that there were more than 500 guests insured reservations However, at Trump’s annual New Year’s Eve party, which began at 7 p.m. Mar-a-Lago, he declined to comment to The Daily Beast about the gala’s COVID-19 guidelines. or the number of attendees.
The president and first lady were absent after their sudden return to the White House on Thursday afternoon. It is not known why Trump left Palm Beach before the New Year’s Eve party, although guests were told the president would attend, according to CNN.
Photos posted online show more than a dozen full tables, making social distancing impossible, while other snapshots featured guests dancing up close. MyPilllow CEO Mike Lindell, singer Taylor Dayne and fashion designer Oscar Lopez were some of those seen. The Berlin band from the 1970s also performed at the event.
Judging by photos and videos, the partygoers violated Palm Beach County COVID-19 guidelines, which require facial coverage “within all businesses and establishments.” To date, 21,672 people have died and 1.3 million more have been infected with the virus in Florida.
The office of the administrator of the Florida Department of Health and Palm Beach County did not answer questions from The Daily Beast about whether local orders were being breached.
The brilliant celebration of New Year’s Eve at the Trump resort is a long-standing tradition. In previous years, the celebration would have been adorned by celebrities such as Rod Stewart, Sylvester Stallone and Woody Allen.
The last time the president was absent from his party was in 2018 during the government shutdown, when Melania Trump welcomed without him.
Thursday’s celebration was quieter than in previous years, following Trump’s abrupt departure from the complex. The city of Palm Beach had also imposed a curfew at one in the morning to limit the New Year’s Eve festivities amid the pandemic.
“Goodbye 2020! It’s been … real, ”guest Kimberly Benza, who works for the Trump family, posted on Instagram, alongside a photo she hugs Lara Trump.