By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-01 05:44:53 | Updated at 2025-01-04 02:22:17
2 days ago
Lara Trump captivated the bustling Mar-a-Lago crowd as she performed a cover of Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down' at Donald Trump's annual New Year's Eve bash.
Prominent party attendees - including Elon Musk, JD Vance and the president elect himself - could not take their eyes off Lara as she belted-out the classic rock tune.
The former RNC co-chair and wife to Eric Trump publicly released her version of the popular song earlier this year.
Footage from inside the extravagant event shows Musk holding his son X on his shoulders as he intently watches and listens to Lara.
Lara father-in-law is seen standing next to his 'First Buddy' Musk while she performed. Trump seemed focused on the song, as he hardly moves and looks content face during the video.
Melania is seen standing closely behind her husband, with a similarly focused facial expression.
Other crowd members sported gleaming smiles while listening - especially the soon-to-be vice president.
Vance bops his head and grinned from ear to ear as he appeared in the video clip.
Lara Trump released her cover of the Tom Petty classic as a single earlier this year
Elon Musk with X (left) stand alongside President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump (right) during Tuesday night's New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago
The captivated crowd turned their full attention to Lara's performance, with many taking out their phones to record
The rest of the guests sang along - with some throwing their arms into the air to express their enjoyment.
Many people whipped out their phones to capture the jaw-dropping musical number.
This year's exclusive party is expected to bring in 300 guests, the Palm Peach Post reported.
Among the high-profile attendees were Donald Trump Jr and his new girlfriend Bettina Anderson - who made their first public debut as a couple at the event.
As president-elect Trump, who is hosting the glamorous party, answered a few questions from the media on his way inside the event.
He told the press that he wishes Biden well and pointed out how far behind the Democrat was in polls and his performance at the infamous Georgia debate.
'He had a chance to do it in the debate and that didn't work out too well for him,' Trump said.
The president-elect also expressed confidence in his Cabinet nominees and demanded Hamas' Israeli hostages be freed.
JD Vance happily smiled and bopped his head to the classic tune
Trump and Melania seemed focused on the performance, without showing too much expression
He reiterated his support for House Speaker Mike Johnson, explaining the current leader would be the only Republican who could get the votes in a speakership fight.
Trump also confirmed that he would be attending Jimmy Carter's funeral but would not say if he had spoken to the late president's family.
'I'd rather not say,' Trump told the journalists, including DailyMail.com.
DOGE co-chair Musk alongside son X and mother Maye, Vance and his wife Usha, longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone and lawyer Alina Habba walked the red carpet before Trump arrived.
Musk carried his son X on his shoulders past waiting reporters. Trump Jr.'s brother Eric and sister Tiffany were both there with their spouses.
Tiffany's baby bump was starting to show in her black dress. She announced her first pregnancy in October.
Trump's ex-wife, Marla Maples, also walked the red carpet.
Melania Trump wore a slinky and stylish black dress.
On his way in, Trump's father, president-elect Donald Trump, answered a few questions from the press, including casting doubt on the rumors Joe Biden believed he would've beaten him
Donald Trump Jr. and new girlfriend Bettina Anderson made their public debut at his father's annual New Year's Eve blowout at Mar-a-Lago
Her father, Victor Knavs, wasn't far behind.
Asked by a reporter if she had a new year's resolution, the former and future first lady responded, 'we all know what we want ... world peace.'
She also stopped for a quick snap with Paolo Zampoli, her former modeling agent – and the man who introduced her to the president-elect.
Zampolli discovered the future first lady in the 1990s in Milan and helped secure her H-1B visa. He held a party for the president after he won the election in 2016.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz walked the red carpet, with his wife Heidi - whom Trump once insulted - not far behind.
