OAN Staff Katherine Mosack and Brooke Mallory
6:30 PM – Wednesday, July 15, 2026
In a profoundly moving event at the White House, President Donald Trump hosted five female Holocaust survivors for an intimate gathering in the Oval Office.
The meeting was spotlighted on Tuesday when Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President, shared a photograph on social media capturing the poignant moment. The image shows the five women standing warmly alongside President Trump around the Resolute Desk.
Among the attendees was Mrs. Blau, a survivor residing in the Orthodox Jewish community of Borough Park, Brooklyn.
Speaking with the Jewish news outlet Belaaz, Mrs. Blau expressed how deeply meaningful and emotional the visit was for her. She shared that a particular highlight of the memorable afternoon was her opportunity to meet and speak with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and a current Special Peace Envoy for the administration.
“The entire experience was deeply moving, and meeting Jared Kushner was an absolute highlight of the visit.” — Mrs. Blau said, reflecting on her time in the Oval Office to Belaaz.
According to Belaaz, Mrs. Blau shared several candid and lighthearted observations from the meeting. She humorously remarked that Secretary of State Marco Rubio looked “like a little boy” in person, and complimented the president, noting that Trump was “even better looking in real life.”
During their conversation, Trump asked the women about their experiences, inquiring about what they had endured during the Holocaust and how they managed to survive. Mrs. Blau took the opportunity to urge Trump to “always keep Israel in your thoughts,” to which Trump warmly replied, “Of course, of course, Madam.”
Before they departed, each survivor was gifted a presidential coin taken directly from the president’s desk in the Oval Office.
When asked what she planned to do with the keepsake, Mrs. Blau admitted she was still undecided. With a witty nod to her background, she remarked to Belaaz, “It’s not a Rebbishe coin” — referencing the traditional coins distributed by Chassidic Rabbis that are typically designated for charity or kept as spiritual blessings.
According to reports in Orthodox Jewish media, the survivors offered President Trump a traditional Hebrew blessing for health, strength, and leadership. Trump reportedly accepted the blessing with high regard, standing respectfully and thanking them deeply for their prayers.
Staffers present during the meeting described the atmosphere as exceptionally warm and relaxed. Despite Trump’s packed schedule, the discussion reportedly ran longer than initially planned, as the president wanted to hear individual details from each of the five women regarding their lives before, during and after the war.
On January 29, 2025, Trump signed an executive order (EO) titled “Additional Measures To Combat Anti-Semitism,” which required heads of executive departments and agencies to report on civil and criminal authorities they can use to tackle antisemitism, including pending complaints and court cases related to college campus hatred after October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel.
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