Trump formally invited to receive award at Israel Prize ceremony in Jerusalem
White House has yet to respond to invitation for April event, though US president indicated he would attend when Israeli education minister announced he had won the award
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Education Minister Yoav Kisch on Tuesday officially invited US President Donald Trump to attend the Israel Prize ceremony on April 22 in Jerusalem, for which the American leader will receive an award for his “Lifetime Special Contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish People.”
“This unprecedented decision reflects the profound gratitude of the Israeli public for your exceptional leadership and your enduring impact on the history of Israel-United States relations,” the letter read.
“Your presence in Jerusalem to personally receive the Israel Prize would be a moment of profound significance for the people of Israel and a powerful expression of the deep and enduring friendship between our two nations,” the letter read.
The White House has yet to respond to the invitation.
Additionally, the president will receive an award specially designed for him by a 24-year-old artist who served 600 days of reserve duty since the war in Gaza broke out, the Walla news site reported on Tuesday.
The base of the trophy is crafted from stones from the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and is topped off with a Star of David made from gold, the report said.
״אדוני הנשיא, נוכחותך בירושלים וקבלת הפרס באופן אישי תהווה רגע בעל משמעות עמוקה עבור אזרחי ישראל וביטוי עוצמתי לידידות העמוקה והמתמשכת בין שתי מדינותינו״
שיגרתי הערב הזמנה רשמית לנשיא ארצות הברית דונלד טראמפ, להשתתף בטקס פרס ישראל שייערך ביום העצמאות ה-78 למדינת ישראל בעיר… pic.twitter.com/RKBnbmY3K3
— יואב קיש Yoav Kisch (@YoavKisch) February 10, 2026
The Israel Prize has been awarded each year on Independence Day since 1953, honoring Israelis who have excelled in a variety of fields, including “exceptional contribution to the nation.”
Kisch announced Trump’s award in December, and in the announcement, invited the US president to attend in person. Trump did not directly accept the invitation, but he told Kisch that “I look forward to meeting you,” indicating that he was likely to attend.
The prize, which is overseen by the Education Ministry, has faced allegations in the past of politicization and has been marked by battles over controversial recipients.
The honorees are selected each year by a committee appointed by the Education Ministry. According to the Ynet news site, the committee that selected Trump for the honor was made up of Miriam Peretz, an activist and bereaved mother; movie producer Moshe Edery, and Michal Abadi-Boiangiu, the incoming accountant general of the Finance Ministry.
Trump has made no secret that he covets the Nobel Peace Prize, touting himself as a peacemaker who has ended multiple conflicts, including the two-year Israel-Hamas war.
When he was passed over for the that prize in October, the White House slammed the Nobel committee, saying it had proved “they place politics over peace.”
Many have touted Trump as worthy of the prize, including Netanyahu, who in October posted an AI-generated image of the US leader winning the Nobel Peace Prize with the caption “Give [Donald Trump] the Nobel Peace Prize — he deserves it.”
Earlier this month, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and his US counterpart launched an initiative to mobilize world leaders to join them in nominating Trump for the prize.
And in early December, Trump became the first ever recipient of FIFA’s new peace prize at the 2026 World Cup draw, in a move widely seen as a consolation prize for his Nobel snub.
The Times of Israel Community.