jews d

in
the

Inauguration
Whirlwind

Michigan Trump co-chair witnesses
the “transfer of power.”

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

or Lena Epstein, co-chair
of the Michigan Trump
campaign, the Presidential
Inauguration Jan. 20 “was one of
the best 72 hours of my life. There
was so much joy, so much patrio-
tism.”
Epstein, 35, a Bloomfield Hills
resident, savored every moment of
several busy days in Washington,
D.C., attending the inauguration
ceremony, Michigan and national
events, and the Freedom Ball, as

Eric Medwed and his
wife, Lena Epstein, at
the Freedom Ball

well as participating in media
interviews and meeting with
Republicans from across the
country.
“I have never appreci-
ated the transfer of power
so much as yesterday,” she
Lena Epstein with native Detroiter Jonathan Bronitsky, now living in Washington, D.C., at the
said of Inauguration Day.
election of Michigander Ronna Romney McDaniel as chair of the Republican National Committee
From a prime position at the
ceremony, Epstein “scanned
Washington to see that
democracy is working. The peaceful and other official events, includ-
Ball, held at the Smithsonian
transfer of power is meticulous.”
ing the election of Ronna Romney
Museum of National History. About
“I was very pleased at his
McDaniel as chairwoman of the
2,000 guests enjoyed the music of
[President Trump’s] speech, which
Republic National Committee.
the Simone Vitale Band of Royal
gave the world what they wanted
And she met Sally Preibus, wife of
Oak.
to hear — that he will take power
Reince Preibus, Trump’s chief of
Epstein says she was always a
from Washington and give it to the
staff.
Republican but didn’t realize it until
people,” she said.
She noted other Michigan
she attended Harvard University.
Epstein decided to support
attendees, Robert Schostak and Jay
While her family members are
Trump when she heard him at the
Feldman, a friend and customer
liberal Democrats, she says they
debate held at Detroit’s Fox Theater of Vesco Oil Company, based in
are very supportive of her work on
in March.
Southfield. Epstein is a third-gener- behalf of the Republican Party.
“No other candidate had the eco- ation owner and general manager
“It’s a Jewish value to stand up for
nomic gravitas to make our coun-
of this large distributor of automo-
what you believe,” she explains.
try competitive again,” she says,
tive and industrial lubricants.
Epstein cites her first major
adding she lacked confidence the
She attended Gov. Rick Synder’s
achievement for the party as chair-
other candidates would bring back
ball at the Willard/Intercontinental ing the annual Oakland County
jobs, increase security and support
Hotel that honored Romney and
Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in
Israel.
was “amazed at the representa-
2012 — increasing attendance from
She co-chaired Trump’s Michigan tion of Jewish delegates.” She and
400 the previous year to 1,500, and
campaign with Peter Hoekstra,
her husband, Eric Medwed, were
attracting international media cov-
a former congressman. Epstein’s
especially pleased to attend the
erage. One of her current goals is
role was to “serve as a surrogate
Freedom Ball, where they watched
to encourage Jewish people to seek
with the news media, articulating
President Trump and the First Lady office in Lansing and Washington
Trump’s views,” she explains.
dance. This was one of two official
“to have a voice.” While Epstein says
Her campaign service led to a
galas attended by the Trumps.
she and her husband plan to stay in
great seat at the inauguration, as
Epstein and Medwed also were
Michigan for now, she doesn’t rule
well as participation in the parade
guests at the Michigan Inaugural
out a run for office in the future. •

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