Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, welcomed the start of 2026 alongside US President Donald Trump at the latter’s lavish New Year’s Eve celebration at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Times of Israel reported.
The high-profile event brought together political allies, prominent business figures and Trump family members for a night of festivities and fireworks.
Netanyahu, dressed in formal attire, was photographed standing beside Trump and First Lady Melania Trump as the clock struck midnight and fireworks illuminated the Florida sky, according to social media posts shared by attendees.
The Israeli leader arrived in the US earlier in the week for a series of meetings with Trump and senior US officials focused on regional security issues and the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
Who else attended the party?
The guest list for the Mar-a-Lago party included several of Trump’s closest supporters, such as Rudy Giuliani, the former New York Mayor and long-time ally, as well as Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani, as per several reports.
Members of Trump’s family, including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr, were also present, alongside top White House officials.
In the days leading up to the celebration, Trump and Netanyahu held substantive discussions on Middle East diplomacy, particularly efforts to sustain the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and push forward elements of a broader peace agenda.
Earlier meetings touched on concerns about Iran’s regional activities and the ongoing challenges of implementing a durable peace plan after years of conflict.
This is Netanyahu’s fifth meeting with Trump since his return to office
The New Year’s Eve gathering followed the latest round of talks between Trump and Netanyahu, marking their fifth meeting in the US since Trump returned to office earlier this year.
For Netanyahu, attending the Mar-a-Lago celebration underscored the close personal and diplomatic ties he maintains with Trump, whose backing has been pivotal on issues of security and US-Israel relations.
As the two leaders welcomed 2026, the celebration underscored how politics, personal ties and elite social life came together at one of America’s most high-profile New Year’s Eve gatherings.