President Trump Hosts Holocaust Survivors in the Oval Office

In a deeply poignant gathering at the White House, President Donald Trump welcomed five female Holocaust survivors to the Oval Office. This touching event gained attention recently when Margo Martin, a Special Assistant to the President, shared a photograph capturing the moment, showing the five women alongside Trump around the Resolute Desk.

One of the attendees was Mrs. Blau, who lives in the Orthodox Jewish community of Borough Park, Brooklyn. In an interview with a Jewish news outlet, she expressed just how impactful and emotional the visit was for her. Meeting Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law and Special Peace Envoy, stood out as a particular highlight of the day.

“The entire experience was deeply moving, and meeting Jared Kushner was an absolute highlight of the visit,” Mrs. Blau reflected on her time in the Oval Office.

She also shared some lighter moments from the meeting with the outlet, humorously noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared “like a little boy” in person and complimenting the President, saying Trump was “even better looking in real life.”

During their time together, Trump inquired about the women’s experiences, asking what they endured during the Holocaust and how they managed to survive. Mrs. Blau took that moment to encourage Trump to “always keep Israel in your thoughts,” to which he promptly replied, “Of course, of course, Madam.”

Before leaving, each survivor received a presidential coin taken from Trump’s desk. When asked what she would do with the keepsake, Mrs. Blau playfully mentioned she was unsure. With a nod to her heritage, she joked with the outlet, “It’s not a Rebbishe coin,” referring to traditional coins often given by Chassidic Rabbis for charity or as blessings.

Reports in Orthodox Jewish media indicated that the survivors offered Trump a traditional Hebrew blessing for health, strength, and leadership. Trump accepted this gesture warmly, standing respectfully and thanking them for their prayers.

Staff who attended noted that the atmosphere during the meeting was particularly warm and relaxed. Even with a busy schedule, Trump engaged in deeper conversations than originally anticipated, wanting to hear individual stories from each of the five women about their lives before, during, and after the war.

On January 29, 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled “Additional Measures To Combat Anti-Semitism,” which directed executive departments and agencies to report on civil and criminal authorities applicable to antisemitism, including complaints and court cases related to incidents of hatred on college campuses following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.