Trump appoints Long Island philanthropist and son of Holocaust survivor as US ambassador to Hungary

President Trump has tapped a Long Island businessman to serve as US ambassador to Hungary.

Benjamin Landa, 69, a Lawrence resident and the son of a Holocaust survivor, was nominated to serve as the top diplomat to the central European country, The Post confirmed.

“For him [Trump] to be aware of everything and give me the opportunity to represent our country is the greatest honor that’s ever been bestowed on me,” Landa said. 

The 69-year-old entrepreneur’s father, Yehoshua Boruch Landa, served as a rabbi in Bishkov, Czechoslovakia before the Holocaust and survived Nazi persecution.

He immigrated to America before settling in Brooklyn, where Landa was raised.

“My father, despite all the horrors he went through, he never lost his humanity, he never lost his sense of humor,” Landa said. “It taught me the idea of resilience and starting from scratch – starting all over from the depths of hell to rise like a Phoenix and that was my father – he never gave up.”

Landa, a former Yeshiva student who graduated from Adelphi University, found success in the nursing home business, co-founding SentosaCare LLC in Woodmere, New York.

He is also known as a philanthropist to Jewish causes across New York City and Long Island, supporting the Crohn’s and Colitis Federation of America and the Chabad of Port Washington.

Landa is also a contributor to Republican causes, including campaign contributions to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has known the Lawrence resident for 30 years.

“He’s an excellent businessman and I know he cares very much about America and he knows about Hungary and I think this is an outstanding appointment,” Blakeman said. 

Former Gov. George Pataki, who is of Hungarian descent, said there was no one better for the job.

“Hungary remains a critical ally at a complex time in global affairs,” the Republican said. “Having someone with Ben Landa’s understanding of its culture, history, and people — coupled with his lifelong record of service — would be a tremendous asset to our country.”

Landa said he would approach the position open, willing and ready to help fellow Americans.

“I’m a big believer in helping others and the ones less fortunate than myself, and I’ll have an open-door policy and I’ll try to help any American that needs help,” he said.