Inside Ivanka Trump's trip to South Korea for the Olympics: K-pop, kosher meals, and the closing ceremony

    Erin Donnelly

    South Korea has rolled out the red carpet for Ivanka Trump, and no one is more delighted than her father, President Trump.


    Trump’s eldest daughter is in town for the end of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. She will lead the U.S. delegation at Sunday’s closing ceremony, taking over from Vice President Mike Pence, who attended the opening ceremony.

    While Pence attended the Winter Games accompanied, as usual, by his wife, Karen Pence, there was no sign of Jared Kushner as Trump landed at Incheon airport with White House press secretary Sarah Sanders in tow.

    Trump arrives at Seoul’s Incheon airport. (Photo: Ahn Young-joon/Pool/AP)

    “We are very, very excited to attend the 2018 Winter Olympic Games to cheer for Team USA and to reaffirm our strong and enduring commitment with the people of the Republic of Korea,” she told reporters upon her arrival, which was broadcast live on South Korean TV. “So thank you for the kind welcome.”


    Trump was later the guest of honor at a dinner hosted by South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the presidential Blue House. ABC News reports that the banquet’s menu was tailored to accommodate Trump’s kosher diet, which she adopted upon her conversion to Judaism before her marriage to Kushner. She was also given embroidered red slippers to wear for the meal, during which she is said to have told Moon that her three children love K-pop music.



    AOL has reported that South Korea is going the extra mile to impress Trump, who they believe has great influence over her father. Her trip will reportedly include taking in an Olympic skiing competition because of her interest in the sport.

    Indeed, Moon took the opportunity at the Friday banquet to praise “President Trump’s strong support for inter-Korean dialogue.”



    Of course, not everyone was optimistic about the visit.





    Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

    Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.