Vice President JD Vance has faced criticism after sending invitations for a Hanukkah reception that feature the phrase “Celebrating 50 years of Christmas.” The blunder was highlighted by Gabby Deutch, a reporter for Jewish Insider, who posted a photo of the invitation on X on Wednesday.
The invitation reads: “The vice president & the second lady request the pleasure of your company for a Hanukkah reception at the vice president’s residence.” The event is scheduled for December 15. Above this, in large cursive lettering, it says “Golden Noel,” followed by “Celebrating 50 years of Christmas at the vice president’s residence.”
A spokesperson for Vance, a practising Catholic, said the phrasing was intentional. “The same branding for invitations was used for all holiday parties at the Vice President’s Residence,” the spokesperson told The Independent. “The Vance family is celebrating 50 historic years of Christmas at the Vice President's Residence. They look forward to welcoming all of their guests.”
This is not the first time the White House has included Christmas references in Hanukkah invitations. In November 2008, invitations for then-President George W. Bush’s Hanukkah reception featured images of Christmas trees. Bush’s press secretary, Sally McDonough, apologised for the error, describing it as a “staff mistake” due to a failure to create separate cards for different holiday events.
