President Donald Trump attended an indoor Chanukah party at the White House this week despite a surging Covid-19 crisis.  

The event was one of two Chanukah receptions at the White House this year, both attended by more than 100 people, according to the Times of Israel. 

The newspaper reported that Mr Trump skipped one of the receptions. 

Footage showed Mr Trump maskless and telling the crowd that if “certain very important people, if they have wisdom and if they have courage, we are going to win this election.”

Mr Trump has refused to accept defeat despite losing his reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden, who will be sworn in next January.

VIDEO: Trump tells the crowd at the Hanukkah party that with the help of “certain very important people, if they have wisdom and if they have courage, we are going to win this election.” — remarks followed with loud chants of “four more years.” pic.twitter.com/FjCyFGOqPC

— Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) December 10, 2020

The US has now suffered more than 292,000 Covid-19 deaths, according to data from John Hopkins University.

Mr Biden acknowledged in a tweet Thursday that “things look a little different this year” for those celebrating.

“As Chanukah begins, Jill and I send our warmest wishes to everyone celebrating in the United States and around the world.

“We know things look a little different this year, but we hope these next eight nights are filled with family, love, and light. Chag Sameach,” he wrote. 

Mr Trump and the First Lady expressed their “warmest greetings to the millions of Jewish people in the United States and around the world as they begin the celebration.”