Leo Terrell, the DOJ official leading the federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, posted video from the White House’s Shabbat 250 event, calling it “a BLAST” and wishing followers “Shabbat Shalom.” The clip shows a lively Shabbat celebration with guests clapping and dancing inside a formal White House setting.    

Shabbat 250 was launched through President Trump’s Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation, encouraging Jewish Americans and others to mark a national Sabbath in honor of America’s 250th birthday. Jewish outlets described it as the first time a sitting U.S. president formally called for a national Shabbat.  

The White House reception was tied to a wider wave of Shabbat 250 gatherings in Washington and across the country, with Jewish administration staffers, community figures and pro-Israel voices taking part. For the Jewish world, the message was unmistakable: at a time of surging antisemitism, Shabbat was not hidden or softened. It was celebrated publicly, proudly and inside the White House.