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Ivanka Trump travels to family golf club for Passover after urging Americans to ‘do your part’ and stay at home

First daughter repeatedly encourages others to stay home while visiting the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey

Chris Riotta
New York
Thursday 16 April 2020 15:18 BST
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Ivanka Trump says she's using time at home to reread The Odyssey and learn to play guitar

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Despite urging Americans to follow social distancing measures and avoid discretionary travel, Ivanka Trump reportedly embarked on a trip to her family's golf club in New Jersey for the Passover holiday amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The first daughter, who also serves in Donald Trump’s White House as a senior advisor, has repeatedly encouraged others to adhere to the administration’s guidelines, which include avoiding social gatherings of 10 or more people and staying six feet away from others.

However, the New York Times reported on Thursday that the 38-year-old went with her family from Washington to New Jersey, where they stayed at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. The mayor of DC issued a stay at home order effective on 1 April limiting travel to essential purposes and requiring residents to otherwise stay at home.

“The president and the coronavirus task force just announced that they would be officially extending the guidance on social distancing until the end of April,” Ms Trump posted in one video to Twitter on 29 March. “It goes without saying that this will be an enormous challenge for all of us … but those lucky enough to be in a position to stay at home, please, please do so.”

Earlier this month, Ms Trump tweeted about Passover while alluding to the fact that many families could not gather in-person for the holidays as the country battles to “flatten the curve” and slow the rate of transmissions in order to keep hospital systems within capacity nationwide.

“Tonight we gather for a Passover without precedent”, the White House senior adviser tweeted on 8 April.

“The group might be smaller, and the answer to ‘why is this night different’ might be unusual,” she added. “But all across the world we shall sing our songs of freedom and together celebrate renewal.”

Ms Trump also included the hashtags #TogetherApart and #ChagSameach.

The mother of three — who held no political experience prior to joining her father’s White House — has frequently suggested she was following stringent guidelines issued by the federal government and US Centre for Disease Control.

In a photo posted to her Instagram, Ms Trump wore a face mask she made along with her daughter, writing: “Remember, while face coverings/ masks are helpful, there’s no substitute for social distancing!”

Ms Trump has reportedly continued to work from New Jersey, remotely taking phone calls while spending time with her kids.

Jared Kushner, her husband and another White House senior adviser, has returned to Washington for work, according to the New York Times.

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