Ivanka Trump to lead U.S. delegation to Olympics closing ceremonies
Ivanka Trump will lead the U.S. delegation at the closing ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, the White House announced on Wednesday.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will join her on the trip this week. Other members of the delegation include Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Sgt. Shauna Rohbock, a member of the Army National Guard who is also a former Olympian and now serves as a coach of the U.S. bobsled team.
“I am honored to lead the U.S. delegation to the closing ceremonies of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics,” Trump said in a statement. “We look forward to congratulating Team USA and celebrating all that our athletes have achieved. Their talent, drive, grit and spirit embodies American excellence, and inspire us all.”
The primary goal of the trip is to highlight American athletes and to reaffirm the U.S. alliance with South Korea, according to administration officials. Trump, the elder daughter of President Donald Trump and also one of his advisers, is scheduled to have dinner with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday.
Ivanka Trump will watch the Olympics throughout the weekend and attend the closing ceremonies on Sunday, according to the White House. She is not scheduled to make any addresses and will primarily focus on the games before her departure from Seoul on Monday.
Sanders will join Trump to help cheer on all female athletes, an administration official said.