Donald and his golden girl: Trump is joined by stunning Melania at pre-inauguration dinner and jokes that if rains tomorrow 'people will know it's my real hair'

• e-mail

Donald Trump was joined by his wife Melania for the final time as president elect on Thursday night at a black tie dinner where he spoke excitedly about his looming inauguration.

The 70-year-old was introduced to the stage at Union Station in Washington D.C. by Vice President elect Mike Pence shortly before 9pm after a busy day of events in the capital. 

With Melania on his arm in a glittering, gold gown, Trump was triumphant as he took the microphone for a final speech before he becomes the 45th president.

Between thank yous to his most trusted staff and jibes at Hillary Clinton, he spoke ahead to Friday's swearing in ceremony, joking that if it rains as predicted, at least the jokes about his gravity-defying hair might stop. 

'It may rain, it may not rain. I don't care. It doesn't matter. If it really pours that's OK because people will realize it's my real hair. 

'It might be a mess but they're gonna see it's my real hair.' 

Scroll down for video 

Donald and Melania Trump attended a black-tie dinner in Washington D.C. on Thursday night, their final engagement before he is sworn in as the 45th president 

He went on to thank donors and members of his family and celebrated himself as a the hardest working candidate to have ever run for office.

The start of his speech was plagued with microphone difficulties but the president elect's message was not lost in the glitch. 

'That was some big victory, some victory,' he said, thanking supporters and party members who had followed him since the start of his campaign.

Trump turned almost immediately to the election map, which is sometimes taken as a sign of the deep divides between 'red America' and 'blue America,' speaking to a crowd that included senators and top officials, along with donors like New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. 

'That was incredible,' Trump continued. 'More impressive, there was a map a couple of days after the election, and it showed the red counties and the blue counties. And the entire country, practically, other than the little points, was red,' Trump said. 

The pair were welcomed into the room at Union Station by rapturous applause, appearing through a set of doors at the back of the stage 

Look gorgeous in gold like with Melania's Reem Acra gown

Bespoke Reem Acra gown

Get the look below!

Buy now

The sartorial showcase from the First Lady Elect continues!

Melania Trump has treated us to an array of delightful looks over the past few months but nothing took our breathe away more than this stunning gilded beauty by New York based designer, Reem Acra.

Reem Acra cut his teeth in the fashion industry as the go-to source for exquisite bridal-wear. And as a long-time friend of the Trumps, it only made sense that he lent his impeccable skill in tailoring to the First Lady.

This sequin gown hugs her enviable curves exquisitely before it falls into a soft mermaid silhouette.

Sadly Melania's dress was a custom-made number for the brunette beauty but in the meantime, why don't you shop for one of the elegant alternatives we've lined up in the edit below?

* PRICES MAY NOT BE AS ADVERTISED

...NOW GET ONE LIKE IT FOR LESS

• $615

  

  Badgley Mischka Collection Sequin Cowl Back Gown at ShopBop.com

  Buy now

• $387

  

  HALSTON HERITAGE Bi-Colored Sequined Gown at LordandTaylor.com

  Buy now

• $164.99

  

  Lauren Ralph Lauren Metallic Scoop-Back Gown at Macys.com

  Buy now

• $208

  

  Dress the Population Sequin Gown at Bloomingdales.com

  Buy now

• $2591

  

  Nicole Coste Angelina Cowl Back Long Dress Gold at Wolf&Badger.com

  Buy now

• $81

  

  Missguided gold metallic long sleeve plunge wrap maxi dress

  Buy now

Vice President elect Mike Pence welcomed the Trumps onto the stage with his wife Karen shortly before 9pm 

Trump gave a casual speech where he thanked his family and deep-pocketed donors for their support throughout the campaign 

Melania dazzled in a custom made Reem Acra gown, Ivanka opted for a black and white gown and Tiffany went for shimmering silver and ivory

The businessman then rattled through the names of cabinet picks and deep-pocketed donors, reserving a special moment of thanks for Kellyanne Conway, his campaign manager and soon-to-be Senior Adviser.

'I see my Kellyanne, come here.  Get up here. She has been so great. 

'There is no den she will not go into.' After kissing the blushing strategist on the hand and cheek, he added: 'Thank you baby,' before she returned to her seat. 

All of Trump's children won a mention. Tiffany, he said, is 'incredible', and Ivanka, who is primed for a key role in the Office of the First Family, was congratulated for her choice of husband. 

While Barron, his 10-year-old son stayed at home, Donald Jr and Eric were in attendance with their wives. 'Look at them,' he gushed of the pair who will take control of his global business empire while he is in his office.  

Joking about his close relationship with son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trump said of his 35-year-old daughter Ivanka: 'We have in the audience a special person who has worked very hard, who married very well. It's my daughter Ivanka. 

'I sort of stole her husband.' Kushner will take an unpaid position as Senior Adviser to the president. Details of what his job may entail have been so far scarce.  

The president elect was in a jovial mood, standing at his table to applaud as Melania remained seated 

Caitlyn Jenner (left) attended the event as did designer Rachel Roy (far right) and party planner Stephanie Winston Wolkoff who has organized the inaugural events 

Jonathan (left) and Robert (right) Kraft, of the Kraft business dynasty, joined speaker Paul Ryan (center) at the event

Ken Langone, one of the founders of Home Depot, also received an invitation. He smiled as he made his way inside the event 

RNC Finance chairman Lewis Eisenberg (left) and Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins, also turned out

Wayne LaPierre, the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association, was also in attendance at the event 

Jackie Evancho (center), who will sing the national anthem at Trump's inauguration on Friday, arrived in a more casual outfit 

Trump shed light on it on Thursday night, revealing his hope Kushner will be able to bring peace to the Middle East. 

'If you can't produce peace in the Middle East, nobody can. All my life I've been hearing that's the toughest deal to make but I have a feeling Jared is going to do a great job.' 

Finishing his speech, where he also praised future Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who he said called him earlier in the day, Trump repeated a vow made at Lincoln Memorial to 'make America greater than ever before.' 

'This is a celebration of victory, we needed this victory. We are going to make America great again. Greater than ever before.'  

Introducing the president elect, Vice President elect Mike Pence thanked the room for making the pair their choice.   

Kellyanne Conway stunned on the red carpet in a scarlet, one-shouldered gown. She addressed reporters as she made her way into the event to confirm that Trump, and his new administration, will work through the weekend 

Conway, who masterminded Trump's campaign, won special praise during his speech and joined him on stage where he said: 'Thank you baby'

Trump warmly greeted members of the audience after his speech. Among them was House Speaker Paul Ryan (above) 

Arriving at the event, Conway spoke on the red carpet to tell reporters Trump's team was 'disappointed' by rocky senate confirmation hearings of their Cabinet picks. 

Conway described the hearings as 'attempts to humiliate' their 'incredible' nominations. 

'We really hope the senate will expedite the confirmation process,' she said. Conway also revealed Trump and the new administration would work through the weekend.

'Tomorrow I turn 50 years old and it's a work day those of us who are going to the White House will be working throughout the weekend.' 

She said the president elect's inaugural address was a 'beautifully written' and 'powerfully delivered' speech which Trump had written himself with the help of Steven Miller. 

The President-elect and future First Lady are expected to spend their last night before taking public office at Blair House, as is tradition, before Trump is sworn in on Friday. 

'We'll see you tomorrow!' Trump stood proudly, pumping the air with his fist as he placed one hand on granddaughter Kai's shoulder as the rest of the family waved after a concert at Lincoln Memorial. (L-R) Tiffany, Jared Kushner, Ivanka, Arabella, Melania, Donald, Kai, Lara, Eric, Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr

The President-elect gave an enthusiastic wave to crowds as he arrived with a beaming Melania at Lincoln Memorial 

The president elect spent as much time waving at the crowd as he did watching the performers, smiling as he listened to screams of 'we love you Trump'

Hours earlier, the couple appeared with the rest of the family at a celebration concert at Lincoln Memorial. 

Trump thanked the thousands of followers who turned out for the event, praising them as the leaders of a 'very special movement'. 

'This journey started 18 months ago. I had something to do with it but you had more to do with it, trust me.  I'm just the messenger,' he told the thousands of fans who had gathered at Lincoln Memorial. 

In a tender moment of gratitude, The Donald turned to his family, sat in a glass clad box to the side of the stage, to say: 'I want to thank my great family, my incredible wife Melania. 

'They've been so supportive and it wasn't easy for them.' 

He vowed to 'work so hard' to restore jobs and industry and dedicated his election victory to those who had believed in his crusade since the start of his campaign. 

'We're going to see something that is going to be so amazing, so many people have poured into Washington DC. 

'This started out tonight being a small little concert - then we had the idea maybe we'll do it in front of the Lincoln memorial and the people came by the thousands and thousands and here we are tonight.

'It's a movement that began, that started, it's a movement like we've never seen anywhere in the world - they say there's never been a movement like this and it's something very, very special and we're going to unify our country.

Ivanka, whose role in the White House is expected to be more akin to that of First Lady than her stepmother's, was escorted to her seat by husband Jared Kushner. Her younger half-sister Tiffany (left) was also in attendance 

Ivanka and her husband Jared held hands with their oldest child, Arabella, as they arrived at the concert 

'And our phrase, you all know it, half of you are wearing the hat, make America great again.

'But we're going to make America great for all of our people, everybody throughout our country. 

'That includes the inner cities, that includes everybody and we're going to do a special job and I can only tell you that 18 months ago, we never knew, some people didn’t know, some had a feeling but a lot of people didn't give us much of a chance but we understood what was happening. 

'It's going to change. I promise you, it's going to change. 

'So I'll see you tomorrow and I don't care, frankly, if it's going to be beautiful or if it's going to rain like crazy. It makes no difference to me. I have a feeling it's going to be beautiful though. 

'I will see you tomorrow and I'm going to be cheering you on. You'll be cheering me on but I'll be cheering you on.

'What we have done is so special. I love you folks and we're going to work together and we are going to make America great again. And I'll add, greater than ever before.

Toby Keith saluted the country's armed forces and thanked both Barack Obama and President-elect Trump for their service 

Trump greeted The Piano Guys after their performance, joining the group on stage for a brief chat 

3 Doors Down also performed at the concert which was largely snubbed by celebrities who publicly slammed Trump 

Lee Greenwood sang God Bless the USA, prompting the president elect to sing along and even bop his head 

'Thank you very much and enjoy the fireworks!' 

The concert has been cast in the shadow of celebrities who declined to perform at it or even attend in protest against Trump.

Their snubs did nothing to dampen the president-elect's spirit nor did they stop a handful of country stars from taking to its stage.  

Jon Voight, one of Trump's most outspoken celebrity supporters, kicked off proceedings with a speech he used to complain about the 'barrage of lies' the businessman has faced.

'We have all been witness to a very gruelling year and a half for the president-elect. 

'We have been witness to a barrage of propaganda that left us all breathless with anticipation, not knowing if God could reverse all the negative lies against Mr Trump whose only desire was to make America great again. 

'He certainly didn't need this job and yes, God answered all our prayers.'  

Voight, 78, said Trump would 'save' the country before introducing soul singer Moore to the stage. 

Jon Voight hit out at the 'barrage of lies' he said Donald Trump had faced as he kicked off a celebratory concert at Lincoln Memorial ahead of the President-elect's inauguration 

Despite a slew of snubs from other Hollywood names and chart-topping musicians, he was enthusiastic about his invitation to the event which was titled Make America Great Again!

Taking to the stage on Thursday afternoon, Voight, 78, said: 'This is some day.

'Dear friends, fellow Americans, I am so honored to be here to welcome you to the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.'  

'Here it is. We will be part of history, all of us and President Lincoln, who sits here with us, I'm sure is smiling knowing America will be saved by an honest and good man who will work for all the people, no matter their creed or color.

'My friends, let us rejoice in knowing that from this time on, we will see a renewed America.' 

After music from Toby Keith, Lee Greenwood, Sam Moore, 3 Doors Down, The Piano Guys and military band Pershing's Own, Tom Barrack, chairman of the inaugural committee, introduced Trump with a speech which celebrated the historic significance of the event.

Tom Barrack, chairman of the inaugural committee, introduced Trump with a speech which celebrated the historic significance of the event

Trump thanked the thousands of followers who turned out for the event, praising them as the leaders of a 'very special movement'

The concert finished with a spectacular red, white and blue fireworks display shortly before 7pm 

Thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to attend the concert which Trump said been initially planned as a smaller event 

'An inauguration is a typically American event and it's the only time in the world that you have this passage of partisan powers that transpires in the snap of a finger.'

'Along the road, we've had 45 men that have left their footsteps and their fingerprints throughout the mortar and the middle of this tidal basin.

'As you have expectations before you, I would like you to pay tribute to the courage, stature, strength, commitment and loyalty of a man who is going to lead with his footprints to diversity, to put the campaigns behind us, to unite behind one man as one America.

'He will show the rest of the world that we can argue, we can fight, we can debate and tomorrow at 11.30, we are one country and he will be the 45th President of the United States.'

Following the tradition of previous presidents, Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery with Mike Pence to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier later 

The concert ended with the president elect's speech and a spectacular fireworks display. As they lit up the sky, Trump and his family stood proudly beneath the memorial. 

The entire brood touched down on a US military plane earlier in the day, flying in all together from New York. 

Trump then followed inaugural tradition, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery with his future Vice President Mike Pence.

He spoke briefly at Joint Andrews Base, as did his wife, where he celebrated his Cabinet which he said had 'the highest IQ of any cabinet ever.' 

Melania, in an impromptu speech, urged by her husband, she said: 'It’s great to be here and thank you all for your support. 

'Tomorrow we start the work. There is a lot of possibility and a lot to take care of.' 

Trump touched down at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday morning, waving to waiting press with his wife Melania as they emerged from a US Military plane 

Melania, in a rare public speech, said: 'Tomorrow we start the work. There is a lot of possibility and a lot to take care of.'

Barron Trump, who did not attend the celebration concert at 4pm, hopped off the US Military plane first. He was dressed causally in a Ralph Lauren sweater and carried a backpack 

Friday's inauguration ceremony will begin at 9.30am with music. Jackie Evancho, who found fame on America's Got Talent, will sing the national anthem.

President-elect Trump will start the day by attending a morning church service before making his way to the Capitol to be sworn in. 

Mike Pence will be sworn in first as Vice President in a shorter swearing in ceremony before Trump's. 

He will then give his inaugural address which he claims to have written weeks ago at his 'Winter White House', his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. 

Rehearsals for the Inaugural Ceremony have been underway for days. Above, a military brand practices at the Capitol on Sunday