Hugh Jackman recently celebrated his 50th - yes, 50th - birthday, and one big name on the guest list surprised some: Ivanka Trump, first daughter-slash-special adviser to President DonaldTrump, and onetime member of the Manhattan glitterati.
Trump, along with husband and fellow West Winger Jared Kushner, were among the famous faces toasting Wolverine at Urban Zen, designer Donna Karan's store in the West Village. Other big names in the building for cake and candles included Aussie actresses Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman. Heads turned when Javanka entered the room, according to Page Six, but a source said: "there was no snubbing. Everyone was polite."
Thing is, the two couples have been friends for years. The "X-Men" star once referred to the heiress and businesswoman as his "lovely friend," and Trump has been spotted at the Aussie couple's New York apartment. As far back as 2011, Jackman and his wife, Deborra-lee Furness, popped up for a photo op at Ivanka's now-shuttered jewellery store. Later that same week, Trump and Kushner were spotted at Jackman's one-man show "Back to Broadway."
Apparently, the boldfacers are connected through Wendi Deng, the ex-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and the woman who brought Ivanka and Jared together in the first place.
In addition to Jackman, who pointedly has stayed out of politics, Jared and Ivanka had plenty of celebrity friends before heading to the Hollywood for ugly people in 2016. Supermodel Karlie Kloss recently married Kushner's younger brother Joshua, Chelsea Clinton is an old friend of Ivanka's although the two haven't spoken for a long time, and "Shameless" actress Emmy Rossum was at the Trump-Kushner nuptials nine years ago.