Judging Ivanka is fair game – but on her actions not her origins

On the campaign trail, she was considered the presidential candidate’s top spokesperson – well-spoken, charming and personable; in short, the ultimate political weapon. I’m referring, of course, to Chelsea Clinton, who would almost certainly have found herself back in the White House if her mother had won the presidency. But as things panned out, it was Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump’s oldest daughter, who landed there instead.

In a similar vein to Chelsea, Ivanka has both a privileged and impressive background. Born into a family with a famous name and significant clout, she used the many opportunities she was given to create a business and brand of her own, centred on celebrating and promoting “women who work”.

Now, despite claiming no future political interests of her own, the 35-year-old entrepreneur has found herself at the centre of political life, an assistant to her father with what appear to be a mass of heavyweight responsibilities – such as acting as an international spokesperson, or guiding crucial policy initiatives. (Some even think she was instrumental in the cruise missile strike in Syria, the administration’s most dramatic moment so far, though her role was at best contributory.)

We have got used to political First Ladies, not least Hillary Clinton herself. But Trump’s wife, Melania, has kept out of the limelight so far, while Ivanka has seized it. For the first time, the President has skipped a generation – a move symbolised by the decision to turn the office traditionally reserved for the First Lady into the Office for the First Family.

This emergence of a First Daughter is no bad thing. Given how clear Trump has been about the advisory roles his children have always played in his life – especially out on the campaign trail – it makes far more sense to have them officially on staff and accountable to the nation. Now that Ivanka is an official employee of the federal government, it is fair game to scrutinise her as any other top official would be scrutinised. And signing up to the Trump administration in a professional capacity means that she will have to bear some responsibility for the actions it takes.

While Ivanka is currently acting as a jack-of-all-trades, it looks as though her major contributions will be concentrated on women’s issues. As a classical liberal, I have been disheartened to hear her regurgitate pay gap myths that don’t compare men’s and women’s jobs like-for-like. But her overall commitment to helping women in the workplace seems sincere – especially highlighting that America is an outlier in the developed world for not offering some guarantee of paid maternity leave.

Only time will tell what the First Daughter is capable of, but discrediting her either on the basis that she’s a brainless nepotistic placewoman, or the reverse, that she is some Machiavellian puppeteer, pulling the strings of the world’s most powerful man, seems unintelligent and uninformed.

As the Trump presidency rolls past the first 100 days this week, judge his daughter as you should judge him – on failures and successes. Don’t cry that it wasn’t Chelsea instead. Kate Andrews is a former spokesperson for Republicans Overseas