Rachel Evans
Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former US President Donald Trump, is a well-known businesswoman, socialite, and former advisor to her father. Ivanka converted to Judaism in 2009, ahead of her marriage to Jared Kushner, an observant Jew. Ivanka's religious beliefs and practices have been a topic of public interest, especially during her father's presidency, when questions arose about the legitimacy of her conversion and its recognition by the Jewish community. Ivanka's religious journey, from her upbringing to her eventual conversion, and her current religious identity, are explored in this discussion about how long she has been Catholic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Ivanka Trump is a practicing Modern Orthodox Jew.. |
| Conversion | Ivanka converted to Judaism under a prominent Orthodox rabbi in Manhattan. |
| Date of Conversion | Ivanka converted to Judaism before her 2009 marriage to Jared Kushner. |
| Previous Religion | Ivanka Trump's previous religion is unknown. |
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What You'll Learn
- Ivanka Trump's mother, Ivana, was born in Moravia, a Catholic region
- Ivanka converted to Judaism before her 2009 marriage to Jared Kushner
- Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, is an observant Jew
- Ivanka's father, Donald Trump, is not known to attend church regularly
- Ivanka's stepmother, Melania Trump, is a practising Catholic
Ivanka Trump's mother, Ivana, was born in Moravia, a Catholic region
Ivanka Trump, born in 1981, is the daughter of Donald Trump and his first wife, Ivana. Ivanka's mother, Ivana, was born in Moravia, a region in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, in 1949. Moravia was a predominantly Catholic region, and Ivana was raised in a Catholic household.
Ivana's full name at birth was Ivana Marie Zelníčková, and she grew up in what is now the Czech Republic. She was an accomplished skier and joined the junior national ski team, which allowed her to travel beyond the Soviet-era communist boundaries of Czechoslovakia. Ivana attended Charles University in Prague and earned a master's degree in physical education in 1972. She also appeared on Czechoslovak Television in 1970, appearing in the children's series Pan Tau.
Ivana married Donald Trump in 1977, and they had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. The couple divorced in 1990. Ivana became a naturalized United States citizen in 1988, and she had a successful career as a businesswoman and model. She was fluent in multiple languages, including Czech, English, German, French, and Russian.
Ivana passed away in 2022 at the age of 73 after falling down the stairs of her New York City home. Her daughter Ivanka, who converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner in 2009, paid an emotional tribute to her late mother on social media, sharing throwback photos and expressing gratitude for the impact Ivana had on her life.
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Ivanka converted to Judaism before her 2009 marriage to Jared Kushner
Ivanka Trump, born Ivana Marie Trump, was raised as a Presbyterian Christian. However, she converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner, a real estate developer, in 2009. Ivanka and Jared's wedding took place on October 25, 2009, in a Jewish ceremony. The couple has three children: a daughter born in July 2011 and two sons born in October 2013 and March 2016, respectively.
Ivanka's decision to convert to Judaism was influenced by her relationship with Jared Kushner, whom she started dating in 2005. They met through mutual friends and briefly broke up in 2008 due to the objections of Kushner's parents but later reconciled. Ivanka's conversion to Judaism made her the first Jewish member of an American first family.
Prior to her conversion, Ivanka was not actively involved in any particular religion. Her mother, Ivana Trump, is not Jewish, and her father, Donald Trump, is not known to be particularly religious, although he has expressed admiration for Judaism. Ivanka's paternal grandparents, Fred and Mary Trump, were reportedly Presbyterian and Quaker, respectively.
In preparation for her conversion, Ivanka studied with Elie Weinstock from the Modern Orthodox Ramaz School. She embraced Judaism and its traditions, sending her daughter to a Jewish kindergarten when they lived in New York City. Ivanka also made a pilgrimage to the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a popular prayer site, and visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in western Jerusalem.
Ivanka's conversion to Judaism demonstrates her commitment to her relationship with Jared Kushner and her willingness to embrace a new faith. It also highlights the influence of her husband's family's religious background on her spiritual journey. Ivanka's new faith has played a significant role in her life, especially during her time in Washington, D.C., and their current residence in Surfside, Florida.
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Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, is an observant Jew
Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner, is an observant Jew. Kushner, a real-estate investor, met Ivanka in 2005 and they married in 2009. Before their marriage, Kushner broke up with Ivanka because she wasn't Jewish. However, they later reconciled when Ivanka decided to explore the possibility of converting to Judaism. Ivanka converted to Judaism before marrying Kushner, and she has since attested to keeping a kosher diet and observing the Jewish Sabbath. She also sent her daughter to a Jewish kindergarten when they lived in New York City.
Kushner, who was a lifelong Democrat, played a significant role in his father-in-law Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. After Trump was elected, Kushner was named Senior Advisor to the President. He resigned as CEO of Kushner Companies and publisher of the Observer, a newspaper he purchased in 2006.
Ivanka and Kushner have three children together and are residents of Surfside, Florida, as of 2021. They practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu together along with their children. Ivanka and Kushner also have substantial assets, with their incomes ranging from $36.2 million to $157 million in 2019.
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Ivanka's father, Donald Trump, is not known to attend church regularly
Ivanka Trump, born on October 30, 1981, is the daughter of Donald Trump and his first wife, Ivana. Ivanka has been nicknamed "Ivanka", a Slavic diminutive form of her first name Ivana, for most of her life. Ivanka has a close relationship with her father, who has publicly expressed admiration for her on several occasions. Ivanka has also praised her father, complimenting his leadership skills and saying that he empowers other people.
Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, has had his religious views widely discussed. Trump was raised in his Scottish-born mother's Presbyterian faith and publicly identified with it for most of his adult life, including during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, in 2020, Trump declared that he no longer identified as Presbyterian and considered himself a nondenominational Christian. Despite this, he has been identified with Applied and Charismatic Christianity through his personal relationships, especially with his formative mentors.
Trump has stated that the United States is a "nation of believers" and has woven Christian religious imagery into his presidential campaigns. He has also maintained positive relations with the New Apostolic Reformation, whose figures promote pro-Trump policies and are influential within the Trump administration. Trump has been critical of what he perceives as anti-Christian bias within the federal government and has taken steps to address this through executive orders and the creation of a task force led by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
However, despite his professed Christian affiliation, there are indications that Trump does not actively participate in religious services. Specifically, it is known that Ivanka's father, Donald Trump, is not known to attend church regularly. Scott Black Johnston, senior pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, described Trump as someone who had "not spent a lot of time exploring the faith" after meeting with him for a prayer meeting in 2016. Terry Eastland of the Washington Examiner expressed a similar sentiment, suggesting that Trump was not one to delve deeply into religious matters.
Trump has been criticized by many Catholics for posting an AI-generated image of himself as the pope during the 2025 papal conclave on his official Truth Social account. In response to the backlash, Trump claimed that "the Catholics loved it" and denied any involvement in creating or posting the image. While Trump has woven religious rhetoric into his political campaigns and formed a White House Faith Office, his attendance at church services has not been a regular occurrence.
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Ivanka's stepmother, Melania Trump, is a practising Catholic
Ivanka Trump, born on October 30, 1981, is the daughter of Donald Trump and his first wife, Ivana. She has a close relationship with her father, who has publicly expressed admiration for her, and she has praised him for his leadership skills. Ivanka has three half-siblings—Donald Jr., Eric, and Tiffany—and one full brother, Barron.
Melania Trump's Catholic faith has been noted in several instances. In 2017, during her first trip abroad as first lady, she met Pope Francis and presented him with rosary beads, which was seen as a confirmation of her faith. In Vatican City, Pope Francis blessed her rosary beads, and she visited the Bambino Gesù children's hospital, placing flowers at the feet of a statue of the Madonna. Melania has also been described as a ''quiet' Catholic, with sources noting that she is religious and that her faith has helped her deal with grief after her mother's death in 2024.
Melania Trump's Catholic faith has been a notable aspect of her public life, and she has been respected for her open-mindedness and respect for people from all backgrounds.
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Frequently asked questions
Ivanka Trump is not Catholic. She converted to Judaism in 2009 before her marriage to Jared Kushner, an observant Jew.
Ivanka Trump's mother, Ivana Trump, was born in Moravia, which was predominantly Catholic. Ivana was likely baptized Catholic, which would have been the only prerequisite for her to receive a Catholic funeral.
Yes, Melania Trump is a practicing Catholic. She is the first Catholic to have lived in the White House since John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy in 1963.
Ivanka Trump has not made any public statements about her religious beliefs or affiliations, besides her conversion to Judaism. She has a close relationship with her father, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly expressed admiration for her. Ivanka has praised her father's leadership skills and has served as a crucial advisor during his presidency.
