President Donald Trump, accompanied by Holocaust survivor Louise Lawrence-Israels, left, and Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik, speaks during a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo Trump says White House Hanukkah celebration 'all about Jerusalem'

President Donald Trump dubbed Thursday evening's White House Hanukkah party one that "will go down as especially special" and declared that this year's soiree was "all about Jerusalem."

The holiday party came one day after the president's announcement that the U.S. will now observe Jersusalem as the official capital of Israel, and that the U.S. embassy will be moved there from its current location in Tel Aviv.


Trump, his family and administration officials — including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin — were among the crowd of around 300 to take part in the festivities, according to a White House pool report. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach were also in attendance.

"I know for a fact there are a lot of happy people in this room," Trump said as he entered the party. "This one will go down as especially special."

Trump later introduced two speakers at the Hanukkah celebration: Rabbi Meir Soloveichik and Holocaust survivor Louise Lawrence-Israels. Before his arrival, guests heard from the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy Lower School Girls Choir from Rockville.

The party featured Kosher food and two "very special" Menorahs, which Trump noted the history of during his remarks. One was used by the first American Jewish congregation, and the second came from the Tarnow Ghetto in Southern Poland.

"May you all have a truly blessed and happy Hanukkah," Trump said.

The Hanukkah event followed a Christmas party held earlier this week at the White House. On Thursday, Trump joked that he had "set a record" after shaking hands for three hours and 25 minutes at the Christmas celebration, according to the report.