President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence hosted one of its first charitable events of the year last week: The American Humane Society’s 15th Annual Hero Dog Awards Gala.
It’s not the cause that’s caught people’s attention, though, but the costumes.
Attendees were dressed in 18th century regalia, complete with dog costumes, in a move that has quickly prompted online ridicule with people labelling the event creepy, and the press office for California Governor Gavin Newsom dubbing it a “FURRY PARTY.”
Why It Matters
The American Human Society was founded nearly 150 years ago and said in a press release that in 2025 it “rescued, cared for and protected more than 1.4 billion animals.” The gala itself took place at Mar-a-Lago on January 9 and is dedicated to honoring courageous and inspiring dogs.
Some 25 pooches were put forward for the gala’s Hero Dog award, which is for “bravery in action, healing paws that bring comfort and second-chance stories that prove hope is never lost,” according to the society’s website. The winner, one Sergeant Bo, was a therapy dog. Other finalists for the award include service and military dogs.
What To Know
One video, shared to X by the account @patriottakes, shows footage from the event, and reveals a band playing The Way You Look Tonight, while people in animal masks and ball gowns dance.
The footage also shows two people in pink Rococo garb, complete with matching dog houses, dancing to Amy Winehouse’s Valerie in front of an empty swimming pool.
That post, captioned “Let them eat cake”—Entertainers wearing dog masks and Rococo-era 18th-century European aristocratic court costumes danced for Mar-a-Lago guests at a party this weekend,” has been viewed 1.7 million times as of reporting.
The left-leaning media group MeidasTouch shared four images from the event in a post with the text, “Checking in on Mar-a-Lago,” in a post viewed over 370,000 times.
Mar-A-Lago is available to rent by anyone, and events being held there do not mean that the president was present or involved.
However, a video posted by Kelly Henry, senior editor at the outlet Florida Weekly Palm Beach, appears to show the president addressing the crowd at the event.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom, in a post on X viewed over 130,000 times: “Why is Donald Trump hosting a FURRY PARTY???”
Ben Meiselas, co-founder of MeidasTouch, in a post viewed over 100,000 times on X: “Trump hosted this party at Mar-A-Lago today. Yes, it’s real.”
Social media user @NotDevers, in a post viewed over 35,000 times on X: “Furries at maralago wasn’t on my bingo card.”
What Happens Next?
As the Mar-a-Lago venue is available to rent by anyone, so similar events could spark similar scrutiny in the future.
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