Ivanka Trump: Some queries about dad’s behavior ‘inappropriate’
Ivanka Trump watches the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in South Korea. Credit: Getty Images AsiaPac / Pool
WASHINGTON — Ivanka Trump expects to be treated seriously as a senior adviser to her father, President Donald Trump. But when faced with questions about her father’s treatment of women, she’d prefer to be viewed as just a daughter.
On Monday, she argued in an NBC interview that a query to her about the women accusing the president of inappropriate behavior was “pretty inappropriate.”
The comment highlighted her complicated roles as first daughter and advocate for women and families, serving in an administration led by a president accused of inappropriate behavior by more than a dozen women.
Asked if she believed the accusations against her father, Ivanka Trump said: “I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when he’s affirmatively stated that there’s no truth to it. I don’t think that’s a question you would ask many other daughters.”
Trump has denied the allegations, and his daughter said she stood by him.
“I believe my father, I know my father,” she said. “I think I have that right as a daughter, to believe my father.”
She was interviewed after leading the U.S. delegation at the closing ceremony for the Winter Olympics.
Katherine Jellison, who heads the history department at Ohio University, said, “You’re either a senior adviser or a daughter. She’s in this unique position that she’s still trying to work out — especially since she was last in the news as a senior adviser going to the Olympics.”
Ivanka Trump’s trip to Asia included a private meeting with the South Korean president and a pledge that she would use her visit to advocate maximum pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear program. Trump documented her journey on social media, posting photos and messages to athletes.
Before she left Asia, Trump wrote: “Thank you to President Moon, First Lady Kim & the people of South Korea for the warm hospitality you showed me, our Presidential Delegation & #TeamUSA during the #WinterOlympics.”
Trump has struggled to find the right tone to respond to the rising #MeToo movement. She recently got pushback for a tweet offering support for Oprah Winfrey’s message of female empowerment at the Golden Globe awards.
She said: “Just saw @Oprah’s empowering & inspiring speech at last night’s #GoldenGlobes. Let’s all come together, women & men, & say #TIMESUP! #UNITED.”
Actress Alyssa Milano responded to Ivanka Trump’s tweet: “Great! You can make a lofty donation to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund that is available to support your father’s accusers.”
Ivanka Trump is not the first presidential family member who has sought to play down personal questions. Jellison recalled that former first lady Barbara Bush once pushed back on a question about her granddaughters after they received citations for underage drinking.
Jellison said the situation with Ivanka Trump was different, adding, “she did choose to play this senior advisory role.”
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 17: Olympics a possibility for Long Beach wrestler? On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks with Long Beach wrestler Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez about pursuing a third state title and possibly competing in the Olympics in 2028, plus Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 17: Olympics a possibility for Long Beach wrestler? On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks with Long Beach wrestler Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez about pursuing a third state title and possibly competing in the Olympics in 2028, plus Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week.
