President Donald Trump talks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS
(Washington, DC) – President Donald Trump has been formally invited to Jerusalem to receive the Israel Prize for Lifetime Special Contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish People.
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced Tuesday that he sent a formal letter inviting Trump to attend the Israel Prize Award Ceremony on April 22, which coincides with Israel’s Independence Day celebrations.
“This evening I sent a formal invitation to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to participate in the Israel Prize ceremony,” Kisch wrote in a post on X, sharing a copy of the letter.
Kisch’s ministry oversees the prestigious award, which is presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to Israeli society, culture, and the Jewish people.
In December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Trump would receive the prize in the category of “Unique Contribution to the Jewish People,” marking the first time a foreign leader has been selected for the honor.
Netanyahu described the decision as historic, citing what he called Trump’s “extraordinary contribution and its lasting impact on the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.”
In his letter, Kisch said Trump’s presence in Jerusalem to personally accept the award “would be a moment of profound significance” and a powerful symbol of the enduring relationship between the United States and Israel.
It is not yet clear whether Trump has accepted the invitation.
