Trump Sells Off Jesus Painting for $2.75M at NYE Party
Christian speed artist Vanessa Horabuena at the New Year’s Eve Party hosted by US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida on December 31, 2025 (photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
On New Year’s Eve, a live-painted likeness of Jesus Christ was auctioned off by President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. The painting, created in just 10 minutes by Christian artist Vanessa Horabuena, fetched an impressive $2.75 million from an unnamed couple.
During the auction, Trump praised Horabuena’s talents, calling her “one of the greatest artists anywhere in the world.” The final portrait depicted a fair-skinned, light-eyed figure resembling the Shroud of Turin, which Trump described as “amazing.”
Proceeds from the sale were announced to go to the sheriff’s department and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with the final bid far exceeding the usual price range for Horabuena’s work.
Aside from the painting auction, the White House also projected a commemorative display onto the Washington Monument to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding.
While the sale of a Jesus painting for millions of dollars may align with Trump’s utilization of religion for his benefit, it has also sparked criticism from some religious commentators who view his actions as contradictory to Christian values.
Hyperallergic has reached out to Horabuena for comment on the event.
