US President Donald Trump said that his New Year’s resolution for 2026 is “peace on earth,” striking a brief aspirational tone as he addressed guests at a grand New Year’s Eve celebration at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Responding to a question about his resolutions during the gathering, Trump said simply, “Peace. Peace on earth. Peace on earth.” He declined to comment on questions related to intelligence operations in Venezuela or the possibility of deploying US troops in Ukraine.

The event, hosted by Trump and the First Lady, drew a large number of prominent political figures, business leaders, and international guests. According to a White House pool report, the atmosphere was festive and theatrical, reflecting the signature style of Trump-hosted celebrations.

Guests were welcomed by a black carpet emblazoned with the words “Happy New Year Mar A Lago” in gold lettering. At the entrance, musicians stood on pedestals surrounded by tall white candles, performing “God Bless America” and the US national anthem. Inside the ballroom, a massive white floral installation framed the entrance as a live band played “I’ve Had the Time of My Life.”

In his remarks, Trump pivoted quickly from his peace message to a wide-ranging reflection on what he described as America’s rapid economic and strategic resurgence. He said the country was “doing really well,” citing what he called unprecedented levels of investment flowing into the United States.

“We have more investment coming into our country than any country ever in the history of the world, by a lot,” Trump said. He pointed to factories being built “all over the country” and expressed confidence in economic growth figures that he said had significantly exceeded forecasts.

Referring to recent data, Trump claimed growth had surpassed expectations. “You saw 4.3. They were predicting 1.9. 4.4,” he said, highlighting what he described as a faster-than-anticipated economic turnaround.

The President also highlighted tariff revenues, stating that the United States had taken in “hundreds of millions of dollars,” and spoke about increased military funding. “We’re back. We’re strong,” Trump said, adding that the pace of recovery had exceeded even his own expectations.

Trump praised Republican Congressman Tom Emmer for recent television appearances and thanked political leaders in attendance, urging continued efforts to “take back our country.” He also spoke about alleged large-scale financial misconduct, claiming that authorities were uncovering billions of dollars in losses and vowing that the funds would be recovered.

“It was a giant scam,” Trump said, asserting that investigations were ongoing. “It’s all coming back,” he added, framing the effort as part of what he called a renewed national reset.

One of the evening’s most striking moments was a live art performance by artist Vanessa Horabuena, whom Trump described as one of the world’s greatest artists. As a band played a Christian worship song, Horabuena painted on stage, dancing as she worked. The finished piece was revealed to be a portrait of Jesus.

Trump then auctioned the artwork for charity, announcing that proceeds would go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and a local sheriff’s department. He opened the bidding at $100,000 and later offered to sign the painting to increase its value. The artwork ultimately sold for $2.75 million.

Among those seen at the event were US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, businessman Phil Ruffin, Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Eric and Lara Trump, Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani, and White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also reportedly present.