News that US President Donald Trump would be continuing President Barack Obama’s tradition of hosting a White House Passover seder Monday night, was first reported by Jewish Insider.
However as Monday evening, the first night of Passover, Trump turned out to be a no-show.
President Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who are Jewish, did not attend either.
On Sunday night at about 8:45 pm Ivanka Trump posted a family photo on Instagram and Twitter, with the comment, “During #Passover, we are called upon to reflect on the significance of the exodus from Egypt and to celebrate the great freedoms we enjoy today! #ChagPesach”
During #Passover, we reflect on the significance of the exodus from Egypt and celebrate the great freedoms we enjoy today! #ChagPesach pic.twitter.com/x2sOSXdWm1
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) April 11, 2017
Only one Trump cabinet member participated along with White House staffers. That cabinet member was secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, who is a holdover from the Obama administration.
Shulkin, the former undersecretary for health in that same department, is one of the few Obama holdovers in the administration.
Both the president’s official and personal Twitter feeds also issued statements wishing Jews worldwide a Happy Passover in English and Hebrew.
Happy Passover to all those celebrating! Chag Sameach! pic.twitter.com/bHVw36z0GX
— President Trump (@POTUS) April 10, 2017
Happy Passover to everyone celebrating in the United States of America, Israel, and around the world. #ChagSameach
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 10, 2017
This was not the first time a US president was not present at a White House seder. While Obama initiated the yearly seder, Jewish staffers in former president Bill Clinton’s administration held a Seder in the Indian Treaty Room in 1993 — which Clinton himself did not attend.
Last year, the White House Seder was delayed until after Passover to accommodate Obama’s travel schedule.
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