Trump won’t attend opening of new US Embassy in Jerusalem

by Jordan Fabian - 05/07/18 2:00 PM ET

The White House announced Monday that President Trump will not be a part of a high-ranking delegation that will attend the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

{mosads}Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will lead the delegation to the May 14 ceremony, which also includes the president’s daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who also serve as senior advisers to Trump.

Kushner has been tasked with leading efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which have hit a virtual standstill. Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s Middle East envoy, will also attend the ceremony, as will Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem fulfilled a core campaign promise, but sparked anger across the Arab world.

Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital for a future state, and decades of U.S. policy has said the status of Jerusalem should be decided in peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

If the president had decided to attend the ceremony, it could have amplified protests that are expected to break out around the opening.

Still, Trump had left the door open to a trip just two weeks ago.

“I may go. I’m very proud of it,” Trump said of the embassy during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.