Trump's historic Florida visit: Everything that happened, in photos Dec. 20 through Jan. 4, 2026

Palm Beach Post

Jan. 5, 2026Updated Jan. 6, 2026, 10:22 a.m. ET

President Donald Trump's recent two-week holiday vacation at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach was historic on many levels.

Consider, during Trump's 16-day stay between Dec. 20, 2025 and Jan. 4, 2026:

∎ On Dec. 22, Trump, along with top Cabinet officials, introduced a "golden fleet" of naval war vessels called "Trump class," led by two new battleships called the USS Defiant.

US President Donald Trump walks to his SUV as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in Palm Beach, Florida early morning on December 20, 2025. President Trump is in Florida to spend the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago estate. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

∎ On Christmas night, Trump ordered a U.S. attack in Nigeria targeting ISIS “terrorists” who the president said had killed “innocent Christians.”

U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a Christmas Eve dinner in the ballroom of his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 24, 2025. REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak

∎ On Dec. 28, Trump met with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for another round of high-stakes negotiating to end the nearly four year-long invasion by Russia.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy look at each other while they receive questions from the media as Zelenskiy arrives for meetings at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

∎ On Dec. 29, Trump held a high-profile meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which did not appear to propel the Gaza accords into phase two, as the administration desired, beyond pledges to start rebuilding the war-torn strip of land on the Israeli border.

U.S. President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 29, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

∎ On Dec. 31, Trump hosted his annual New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, with club members, celebrities and GOP stars and included an auction of a painting of Jesus that sold for $2.75 million to the highest bidder.

President Donald Trump speaks to guests during a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Year's Eve event at Mar-a-Lago on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach.

∎ On Jan. 3, in a globally televised news conference, Trump and top Cabinet members revealed details of a U.S. military raid to arrest strongman Nicolás Maduro and remove him from power in Venezuela.

A photograph posted by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account shows him sitting next to CIA Director John Ratcliffe as they watch the U.S. military operation in Venezuela from Trump's Mar a Lago resort, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 3, 2026. @realDonaldTrump/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Trump has made more than 50 presidential trips to Mar-a-Lago, his official residence since 2019, in his two non-consecutive White House terms. The travel has taken place during the Palm Beach winter social season that runs from October to May.

U.S. President Donald Trump departs in his motorcade after spending the last day of his New Year holiday at his golf club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 4, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

But none of those visits, or trips of other presidents who had homes in Florida, such as John F. Kennedy, had as much happen during one visit.

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