Trump Makes Surprise Visit to Lubavitcher Rebbe's Grave in NYC: Solidarity with Israel Amidst Crisis

Trump Pays Respects at Lubavitcher Rebbe's Grave in NYC

Former U.S. President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York City on Monday, October 7th, coinciding with the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. The visit was seen as a gesture of solidarity with Israel and the U.S. Jewish community, as Trump placed a handwritten note at the grave and held up a photo of hostage Idan Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen.

Trump's visit was kept private, with no media coverage allowed, but he was photographed wearing a black kippah and alongside conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. He also reportedly chose October 7th for the visit to express solidarity with Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, is a revered figure whose gravesite has become a pilgrimage destination for both Jews and non-Jews alike. Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, a senior official in Chabad's global outreach network, stated that the Rebbe welcomed people from all walks of life, and his gravesite continues to draw people from around the world.

Trump's visit comes just over two weeks after Argentine President Javier Milei and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also visited the Rebbe's gravesite, with Milei attributing his election victory to a prayer he made at the site shortly beforehand. Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also recently visited the grave, accompanied by the families of hostages.

Trump's visit has been widely interpreted as a political move aimed at garnering support from the Jewish community in his bid for re-election in November. His campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, claimed that Trump's re-election is "essential for both Americans and Israelis" to end the violence caused by a "more powerful, energized and wealthier Iranian regime" that she attributed to the "weak policies of the Biden-Harris administration."