Why Donald Trump is being called ‘first Jewish president’ despite being Christian

Donald Trump hosted a White House Hanukkah celebration on Tuesday, December 16, sparking confusion over his religious identity after being called the “first Jewish president” by broadcaster Mark Levin.

During his speech, Trump expressed condolences and support for Australia following a deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14, which left 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Speaking from the East Room, Trump offered “love and prayers” to those affected and said he would always support Jewish Americans, describing himself as a “friend and a champion of the Jewish people.”

The confusion arose when Mark Levin joined the event on stage. Levin praised Trump, calling him the “first Jewish president” and noting that he was the first to serve two non-consecutive terms. Trump agreed with the statement, prompting applause from the audience.

Levin has referred to Trump this way before, including during a 2019 appearance, highlighting Trump’s support for Israel and his contributions to the Jewish community.

Despite these references, Trump was raised Presbyterian and identifies as a non-denominational Christian. He is not Jewish, although his daughter Ivanka converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2009 before marrying Jared Kushner.

Ivanka has spoken about her conversion, describing Judaism as a meaningful framework for family connection and tradition, which contrasts with her modern lifestyle while preserving traditional values. Social media users have expressed curiosity and confusion about Trump’s religion following the Hanukkah event and Levin’s remarks.