Presidential adviser Ivanka Trump expanded a visit to Pittsburgh on Tuesday to distribute food boxes to families hit by the coronavirus and to praise black churches for leading the battle for racial justice.
In joining the two current issues facing the nation, Trump stepped to the front of the administration’s effort to grapple with the George Floyd protests and provide aid to those sidelined by the pandemic.
With Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, whose department runs the Families Food Box Program that distributes food to farmers and others during the crisis, President Trump’s daughter visited the city’s Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ to help with food distribution.
Black churches are great forces for justice, equality and human dignity in our nation.
I was grateful to listen and learn from faith & community leaders how together we can bring about healing and holistic revitalization to underserved communities across the nation. https://t.co/XljDnzmJYL
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) June 16, 2020
She also participated in a “listening session” and panel that included the president’s personal pastor, Paula White, and praised the work of the church and others involved in the effort to help the poor and end racial injustice.
“Black churches are great forces for justice, equality and human dignity in our nation,” she said in a tweet. “I was grateful to listen and learn from faith & community leaders how together we can bring about healing and holistic revitalization to underserved communities across the nation,” added Trump, who put boxes in cars.
Ivanka Trump puts a box of food as part of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, into a car during a drive-through pickup at the Pentecostal Church of God In Christ, in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Also in attendance: Sonny Perdue, Scott Turner, and Paula White. pic.twitter.com/1obtWifvVU
— Al Drago (@Al_Drago) June 16, 2020
In another tweet, Trump singled out the church pastor and said, “Thank you Bishop Mann for hosting us at the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ in Pittsburgh, PA. Through amazing faith based organizations such as yours our #FarmerstoFamilies food box program has delivered over 20 M boxes of fruit, meat and dairy to families in need!”
Perdue added, “This is the best of America on display — Americans helping their fellow citizens during their time of need.”
One official said that Trump’s visit was unannounced and that many didn’t recognize her behind her black mask.
Joined @IvankaTrump in Pittsburgh today to distribute @USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Boxes with our partners at the Pittsburgh Pentecostal Temple Church of God. This is the best of America on display – Americans helping their fellow citizens during their time of need pic.twitter.com/6M2E3pMfc9
— Sec. Sonny Perdue (@SecretarySonny) June 16, 2020
Trump has worked with Perdue and nonprofit groups to deliver food, especially in economic “opportunity zones.” In the event, she was joined by Scott Turner, executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Dave Donaldson, the founder of CityServe, and Reed Slattery, the national director of U.S. programs for World Vision.
Trump helped to build the coalition with groups such as CityServe and World Vision to reach out-of-the-way regions. They have delivered nearly 1.7 million of the 20 million food boxes to those areas.
