Tickets to the annual New Year’s Eve party at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida are selling for $750 each.
The ticket price, which has jumped from last year, has prompted criticism against Trump with some accusing him of profiting from public office with the ‘very glam’ New Year’s Eve event.
Trump has attended the party at his Mar-a-Lago private club for the past two decades, but Sunday night’s festivities will be his first as President.
Tickets to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve party are selling for $750 for guests and $600 for members. Trump and wife Melania are pictured above at last year’s NYE party
The President’s supporters and members of his private club say the increased security measures and pricier tickets will be worth it.
‘It’s a very glam night. I think everyone is even more excited this year than last year, because then he was president-elect, he hadn’t been sworn in,’ supporter Toni Holt Kramer told the Washington Post.
But critics claim the lavish party is a way for Trump to promote his brand – even though he gave up running his hotel and real estate business when he was elected.
He still owns various properties, including Mar-a-Lago.
Trump has attended the party at his Mar-a-Lago private club for the past two decades. He is pictured above waving to supporters in Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday
‘The president continues to find ways to profit from public office, by exploiting the fact that there are people who will pay to spend time with him and to be seen with him,’ according to Kathleen Clark, who is a government ethics expert at the Washington University School of Law.
Hundreds of people are expected to show for the red-carpet extravaganza, which usually includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a four course dinner and entertainment.
At least 600 people attended last year’s sell-out party when tickets were $525 for members and $575 for guests.
This year, tickets have jumped to $750 for guests and $600 for members.
‘I expect most of the members will want to be there. It’s going to be fabulous,’ Kramer said.
She added that the President would likely ‘be the last one to leave the party, and the first one up in the morning, tweeting. Lucky for us, he doesn’t need a lot of sleep.’
Hundreds of people are expected to show for the red-carpet extravaganza. Workers were busy preparing for the New Year’s Eve event at Mar-a-Lago