A very stylish Ivanka Trump joined the rest of her family including her husband and children at the White House to celebrate an ‘especially special’ Hanukkah one day after the president declared Jerusalem Israel’s capital and setting off criticism and clashes.
The 36-year-old mother-of-three was all smiles alongside her husband, Jared Kushner, and children – Arabella, 6, Joseph, 4 and one-year-old Theodore inside the East Room of the White House Thursday night where they joined her father and the first lady who hosted a Hanukkah reception.
During the reception, Ivanka shared a video to her Instagram account showing Arabella and Joseph participating in the ceremony by lighting the first candle on the Menorah while the crowd sang ‘Ma’oz Tzur’.
The children looked adorable as Arabella sported a patterned navy blue dress and her younger brother wore a navy blue blazer and pants.
The first daughter, who converted to Judaism when she married Jared, was photographed earlier in the evening stepping out of her DC area home dazzling while sporting a matching Alexander McQueen black and gold sweater and pleated skirt that costs around $3,200.
Family time: A very stylish Ivanka Trump joined the rest of her family including her husband (above right) and children at the White House to celebrate an ‘especially special’ Hanukkah one day after the president declared Jerusalem Israel’s capital and setting off criticism and clashes
The president and first lady Melania Trump were hosting a Hanukkah reception inside the East Room where Ivanka, who converted to Judaism when she married Jared, joined them with her family. Above she is pictured next to Jared and her daughter Arabella, 6
During the reception, Ivanka shared a video to her Instagram account showing Arabella and Joseph participating in the ceremony by lighting the first candle on the Menorah while the crowd sang ‘Ma’oz Tzur’ (above)
Arabella and Joseph held a candle together to light the Menorah as their parents beamed with pride behind them. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, were also on hand for the ceremony
The father-of-three took turns with his wife holding their youngest son, Theodore, during the reception
Earlier in the evening Ivanka was spotted stepping out of her DC area home dazzling while sporting a matching Alexander McQueen black and gold sweater and pleated skirt that costs around $3,200
As she is seemingly always in style like her step-daughter, Melania looked effortlessly chic while sporting a sleeveless black dress for the event
As she is seemingly always in style like her step-daughter, Melania looked effortlessly chic while sporting a sleeveless black dress for the event.
The former model was seemingly chipper after having a busy day where she answered questions from children during a visit to the Children’s National hospital in DC.
Her 70-year-old husband made remarks at the ceremony about Israel in wake of his decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
‘Right now I’m thinking about what’s going on and the love that’s all over Israel and all about Jerusalem,’ Trump said.
The former model was seemingly chipper after having a busy day where she answered questions from children during a visit to the Children’s National hospital in DC
Her 70-year-old husband made remarks at the ceremony about Israel in wake of his decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He said: ‘Right now I’m thinking about what’s going on and the love that’s all over Israel and all about Jerusalem’
Inside the White House Thursday, Trump got only applause, cheers and thanks from the crowd, which included Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Holocaust survivor Louise Lawrence-Israels (right) and Orthodox Rabbi Meir Soloveichik.
Trump was also joined by Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik (right), during the Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House
The president broke with decades of U.S. policy with the Jerusalem announcement, putting the United States at odds with most other countries. The European Union, Germany, Britain, France, the Pope and key Arab allies have denounced the move.
But inside the White House Thursday, Trump got only applause, cheers and thanks from the crowd, which included Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Holocaust survivor Louise Lawrence-Israels and Orthodox Rabbi Meir Soloveichik.
Israels spoke of standing up to hate. And Soloveichik recited a traditional prayer that he said has additional meaning this year.
‘For the first time since the founding of the state of Israel, an American president has courageously declared what we have always proclaimed, which is that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel,’ Soloveichik said.
Trump struggled with the pronunciation of Soloveichik’s name. ‘He’s so happy with yesterday, that he doesn’t care if I get it exact,’ the president said.
He also remarked of the holiday, ‘I think this one will go down as especially special.’
Trump struggled with the pronunciation of Soloveichik’s name. ‘He’s so happy with yesterday, that he doesn’t care if I get it exact,’ the president said. He also remarked of the holiday, ‘I think this one will go down as especially special’.
The Palestinians equally lay claim to Jerusalem and want the eastern part of the city as capital of a future state.
In response to Trump’s announcement, thousands of Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces in east Jerusalem and the West Bank and demonstrators in the Gaza Strip burned U.S. flags and pictures of Trump.
The Old City in east Jerusalem is home to sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and its status is one of the most explosive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Until Trump’s decision, the U.S. – along with most other countries – has maintained its embassy in Tel Aviv, saying the status of Jerusalem should be resolved between the sides in negotiations.