At her father’s side through campaign, transition, Ivanka Trump may redefine role of first daughter
DESMOINES, Iowa — With Ivanka Trump, the typically minor role of a first daughter could get a major makeover.
She was a key player in her father’s winning campaign, and people are closely watching the next moves by President-elect Donald Trump’s 35-year-old daughter.
She’s attended her father’s transition meetings with highprofile figures and has indicated her interest in working on policy issues such as child care.
While three of Donald Trump’s adult children are viewed as close advisers, he often highlights Ivanka and has made clear that he’d love to have her with him when he moves into the White House.
It’s not clear whether that would be in a formal position. But Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway suggested that there may be an exception to antinepotism laws for Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.
Previous first daughters have played a social role in the White House, but it would be “unprecedented” for Ivanka Trump to serve as a close adviser, said Katherine Jellison, who heads the history department at Ohio University.
The business empire
With the Trump family, everything comes back to the vast family business empire.
Ivanka Trump is an executive vice president of the business along with brothers Donald Jr., 38, and Eric, 32. Just how the president-elect will handle his business interests remains unclear. Trump has said he will turn management over to his sons and executives.
Ivanka Trump has her own business to consider as well. She recently drew criticism after her company promoted a $10,800 bracelet she wore during a “60 Minutes” interview on CBS. The spokeswoman for the company later apologized.
Since then, Ivanka Trump has sought to put some distance between herself and her fashion business. Aletter posted on her website said that she would separate her social media accounts from her company’s.
But questions continue to come up. Earlier this month, a “Coffee with Ivanka Trump” was listed on a charity fundraising website. Offered by the Eric Trump Foundation, it was to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The auction — reported by The New York Times — drew high bids, but also raised ethics questions.
The auction appeared to have been removed from the website Friday.
Policy platform While much about Ivanka Trump’s future role is murky, her policy interests are quite clear. Throughout the campaign she highlighted issues like child care, pay equity and maternity leave. Her father mentioned those issues rarely. Ivanka Trump met with a group of Republican congresswomen on these issues in September. Since the election, she has reached out to members of Congress to continue the conversation, according to Sarah Chamberlain, the president and CEO of Republican Main Street Partnership, whosaid she has not heard from the future first daughter.
Republican consultant Katie Packer, whoopposed Donald Trump, said she was welcoming “the spotlight that Ivanka Trump is going to put on these issues.” But Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director Moms Rising, an advocacy group for women and families, said she was concerned that the president-elect’s conservative Cabinet picks don’t share those interests.
“Ivanka Trump is right that child care and paid family leave are national emergencies, but she was not elected to be president of the United States of America and her dad, whowas, has taken the opposite approach,” Rowe-Finkbeiner said.
White House hostess
Throughout the campaign, Ivanka Trump played a more prominent role than Trump’s third wife, Melania, whohas focused her attention on 10-yearold son Barron.
Donald Trump said last month that Melania and Barron Trump would not move from New York to the White House until the end of the school year. She could still come in for major events, but there is historical precedent for a daughter or sister to step in and shoulder some of the social responsibilities.
Since the election, Melania Trump has kept a low profile while Ivanka Trump has been a regular fixture at Trump Tower in New York.