U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee fulfilled a personal promise to President Trump by placing his handwritten prayer note into Jerusalem’s Western Wall during Holy Week, reinforcing America’s steadfast alliance with Israel.
At a Glance
- Ambassador Huckabee placed Trump’s handwritten note reading “For peace in Israel. D.T.” in the Western Wall
- The symbolic gesture occurred during Holy Week and Passover, amplifying its religious significance
- Huckabee reaffirmed U.S. commitment to Israel, declaring “Israel will never be alone”
- This gesture follows Trump’s historic 2018 decision to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
- Huckabee also prayed for the return of all hostages during his visit to the holy site
A Presidential Prayer at Judaism’s Holiest Site
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem this week, delivering a personal handwritten prayer from President Donald Trump. The brief note, which simply stated “For peace in Israel. D.T.,” was placed within a crevice of Judaism’s holiest accessible prayer site. The visit coincided with both Passover for the Jewish community and Holy Week for Christians, adding layers of religious significance to the diplomatic gesture.
Huckabee’s action fulfilled a promise made to Trump before departing for his new diplomatic post. The former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel in March 2024, stepping into the role at a particularly sensitive time in Israeli-American relations. The symbolic act of placing Trump’s prayer in the Western Wall represents a continuation of the close relationship fostered during Trump’s presidency.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee placed a handwritten note reading “For peace in Israel,” signed “Donald Trump,” at the Western Wall. The ambassador opened his visit with this symbolic act, personally delivering the note and requesting it be placed between the stones.
He… pic.twitter.com/TwUtZsf0oH
— ILTV Israel News (@ILTVNews) April 18, 2025
Reinforcing the U.S.-Israel Alliance
During his visit to the Western Wall, Huckabee made clear statements about America’s commitment to Israel’s security. He emphasized that the United States stands firmly with Israel during challenging times and prayed for the safe return of all hostages currently held in Gaza. Huckabee’s remarks underscored the bilateral relationship that Trump prioritized throughout his presidency, particularly with his controversial but momentous 2018 decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The Embassy relocation fulfilled a longstanding congressional commitment dating back to the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which previous presidents had delayed implementing through security waivers. Trump’s follow-through on this promise was widely celebrated in Israel but criticized by Palestinian leadership and some international observers. Huckabee’s ceremonial prayer delivery serves as a reminder of this significant foreign policy shift that recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
New U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Huckabee, visited the Western Wall, stating: “I come with a prayer that all the kidnapped will return home.” He affirmed that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
Ambassador Huckabee also placed a personal note from President Trump in the Wall. pic.twitter.com/IC1JP0mZxu
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 18, 2025
The Tradition of Western Wall Prayers
The practice of placing written prayers in the Western Wall, known in Hebrew as the Kotel, dates back centuries. These handwritten notes, often containing personal prayers, wishes, and supplications, are considered direct communications with God. The wall’s crevices hold millions of such notes annually from visitors worldwide. Twice yearly, before Rosh Hashanah and Passover, the notes are collected and buried on the Mount of Olives, according to Jewish tradition.
The timing of Huckabee’s visit corresponded with Trump’s administration focusing on religious observances back in Washington, including a pre-Easter dinner with faith leaders. This parallel observance highlights the cultural and religious underpinnings of American support for Israel, which transcends purely political or strategic interests. For many American conservatives and evangelical Christians, support for Israel represents both a policy position and a faith-based commitment.
Diplomatic Symbolism During Sensitive Times
Huckabee’s gesture takes on additional significance against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The act of delivering Trump’s prayer for peace demonstrates a continued American interest in Middle Eastern stability while reaffirming unwavering support for Israel’s security concerns. For the Israeli public, such symbolic gestures from American leadership provide reassurance of continued alliance during periods of heightened security challenges.
The visit to the Western Wall represents one of Huckabee’s first major public acts as Ambassador, setting a tone for his diplomatic mission that emphasizes the spiritual and historical connections between the United States and Israel. These cultural and religious dimensions of the U.S.-Israel relationship remain powerful diplomatic currents that transcend changing administrations and shifting regional dynamics throughout the Middle East.
