In a slightly unconventional editorial decision, People Magazine’s cover story this week is about JFK Jr., a man who tragically died nearly two decades ago. People chose not to run with a cover story about Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian, nor did they run a story about Donald Trump and his family during the Republican National Convention. It’s especially weird because People did get an exclusive with Ivanka Trump, and this interview really seems like the kind of piece that would have worked well for a cover story. Huh! You can read Ivanka’s interview here. Some highlights:
On her children: “I want my children to see me first every morning, so I wake up at 5 a.m. and make sure to shower and exercise before they get up.” Then she makes a breakfast of “fancy” oatmeal topped with almonds, walnuts and berries – “anything to get the kids excited to eat oatmeal,” she says with a laugh – before dropping Arabella and Joseph off for summer activities. “I have to strap the baby onto me, especially with the other two running around!”
She wants working women to feel good: “There just weren’t voices in the mainstream space that were really celebrating the multidimensionality of today’s women. I really wanted to create a lot of positivity and to profile incredible women who are doing it their own way.”
Her father’s polarizing comments about minorities: “I’m a daughter, not a clone. So of course daughters often disagree with things their fathers say. But I share my viewpoints with him privately, not publicly. I’m not the candidate.”
Working as her father’s adviser: “My father raised me to have strong opinions, and he respects and appreciates them,” she says. Ultimately, though, “He makes up his own mind. I wouldn’t have the hubris to tell my father to change his approach. I am his daughter, though, so I will give him feedback, solicited or unsolicited.”
Whether she helped her dad select Gov. Pence: “I was there alongside my brothers to offer my opinion, but the decision was very much my father’s. He had great chemistry with Gov. Pence. I thought it was an excellent choice. The job Gov. Pence has done in Indiana with employment, with reduction in taxes every single year, with cutting the budget but also increasing spending in certain key areas, namely schools and health care, is rather remarkable.”
I’ve always said that Ivanka is her father’s favorite, and other media outlets have started calling her that too. I think Donald respects Ivanka’s opinion more than anyone else’s, and shockingly, he would probably do whatever Ivanka told him to do. Which makes it sort of sad that Ivanka can’t tell her father directly: get your sh-t together, stop being racist, etc. I also read this piece about Ivanka’s husband Jared Kushner and how Kushner has basically taken over as a primary adviser to Trump too. This whole thing… it’s just rough.
Also funny? All of the Trump kids were given speaking slots at the RNC, but Ivanka is the one speaking on the final night. Because she’s the favorite.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Fame/Flynet.
OK, then. Do you have the “moral backbone” to do so?
I get the tough spot she’s in, but her father didn’t just have a misstep. He didn’t say a single callous remark. He’s based his entire campaign off of sexism, racism, bigotry, and nationalism. That warrants a real conversation, that is, IF one feels strongly against such things. She probably doesn’t want to embarrass him or hurt the campaign, but the also means that she feels her father would make a great president, which… I mean… total loss of credibility.
I’d believe her more if she wasn’t introducing him at events or being used as an unofficial campaign surrogate. Had she said he’s my father and I love him, but wasn’t involved in the campaign, then I could at least feel slightly better.
I wonder if she said something when DT said if IT wasn’t his daughter he’d be trying to date her, or similar. Beyond gross.
He’s based the last decade on racism and bigotry. I believe that she may share some of his leanings, as do the sons, which is why she is so actively involved. She is manipulating the situation as much as being manipulated by the campaign.
She was raised on the family’s values. Considering the character of Trump and his myriad wives, I doubt that she’s not shady. She always presents herself as successful in business and family, smart and perfect, someone who has it all and can do it all. Just like daddy.
Bingo, @HH. Where is her moral backbone? I’d be mortified if my father were Trump and stay out of the campaign.
Maybe she has done it over and over again but he is incapable of receiving criticism or instruction? He sounds like a classic case text definition of a narcissist. Who always deflect responsibility or ‘wrong’ to another person. So telling people like this to change, they will just end up targeting you in the end.
She is the obvious favorite. She is being used by the Trump campaign to try to convince women that Trump isn’t a total misogynist.
Ivanka is also allowing herself to be used because she is just as hungry for the White House as her dad and her step-mom.
I don’t think Melania is eager to get into the white house. I think she is content living in her ivory Trump tower penthouse. Honestly, i think this whole campaign is an inconvenience for her. I do agree that the Trump children want to transition their family into politics and try to create a dynasty. I wouldn’t be surprised if Don Jr or Ivanka run for office in the near future.
@Melly I have always thought that about Melania. She was happy with the life she was living. She didn’t want this.
@Melly, Drumpf Jr. has purportedly been gearing up for a political run himself for years. So he’s not just chirping his father’s beliefs. He’s just as angry, just as ugly, and just as entitled.
I really don’t know that much about the kids but I can tell you Don Jr. doesn’t share some of this dad’s beliefs. There was a website that I was looking at a few days ago (it popped up on my FB feed and I clicked on it so I don’t know the url), they were introducing the trump kids in a snarky way. Anyway, the website posted some of Don Jr’s tweets that included support for same sex marriage and legalizing pot. These were directly lifted from his twitter including someone shaming him about his support for same sex marriage.
Anyway, I’m anti-Trump but just want to be fair and put it out there that just because the father is like that doesn’t mean the kids all fall in line, you know? Plus, they were raised by Ivana, Donald was hardly there. He was more the bank account.
Yeah, I don’t think Melania would even live in the White House. Ivanka will act as First Lady.
Drumpf Jr. running for President would actually be scarier than what we have now. I have no doubt his message, while still the same, would be more “polished” and attract people turned off by Trump, Sr.’s ways. In my opinion that’s more insidious, because it would legitimize the craziness even more.
To begin with, Don Jr, like the rest of his sibs, never bothered to vote. I doubt that he’d be much of a social activist no matter what his beliefs. He’s just a younger version of Drumf.
@Linnie,
+1!
@Lynnie I can see that. I think his father would have to lose, though. Otherwise DT will screw things up so much that even the loonies would be turned off on another Trump in the White House.
Could someone tell me when this family member giving speech thing started? Was it with Michelle? Bcause I’m damn sure Jqckie Kenndy didn’t do it.
Honey, you couldn’t possibly have hubris because your dad has every bit of the hubris.
I totally agree. He wouldn’t allow for anyone to disagree with him. He’d just fire them.
The word “hubris” in this context is ill-fitting and inappropriate. She should have said “presumptuous”.
She’s the public’s favorite as well so of course she’s speaking and formally introducing DT on closing night.
Of course Ivanka is the favourite. I take my hat off to her because it has to be a lot especially after just having baby numer 3. she is the unofficial First Lady of this campagin.
On another note I was only reading that old vanity fair actictle about JFKjr and Carolyn acouple of weeks ago. Man, they had a turmoil relationship. It’s such a good read.
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/08/john-f-kennedy-jr-carolyn-bessette-divorce-drugs-scandal
going to read that vanity fair article right now!
Yes!!! Xo
That was…. I honestly can’t come up with an adequate or appropriate adjective. Thanks for the link to the article!
😘
I feel that Barack and Michelle Obama understood that being in the White House means serving the people for a certain period of time so they handled their positions with responsibility and modesty.
However, the Trump family seems to be thirsty to get to the White House in order to serve themselves. Even Ivanka, considered probably the smartest, seems starstruck. Which is bad because civil service is not about being a star, the power that comes with it is not for personal use.
This family has never been about civil service – you never hear about Trump philanthropic events or pursuits. The only pursuit they have is for more brand, power and $$$.
As I said in the post above, I was reading a snarky article about the Trump kids from a website that popped up in my Facebook feed. It was very interesting. It told little unknown facts about the kids. I posted some of the things they said about Jr.
Anyway, what was surprising about the youngest son, Eric, was that he owns a successful winery and he set up a foundation that benefits St. Jude’s hospital. The article said his foundation donated about $20 million to St. Jude. His non profit is probably more legitimate than his dad’s because it is affiliated with St. Jude.
So it’s not true that all of the kids are self serving. Again, I’m anti-Trump, don’t plan to vote for him and am disgusted with DT. However, I don’t like painting people with one broad brush just because they were unfortunate enough to have a bad father.
Plus, I think the kids turning out the way they did is from Ivana’s influence, not DT.
I’m not defending the Trumps, but this comment is untrue!!!! The Trumps are involved in numerous charities and many of the times it’s done anonymously! Also, does anyone not think that Bill and Chelsea won’t be front and center at the DNC? All candidates have their family members speak.
@Piper & HH – IF true then I stand corrected but I would need solid evidence of their philanthropy since this is a family that lies together (not just Donald).
I’ve said from the beginning, a presidential candidate should be someone who is running because they wish to serve their country. Trump serves no one but himself. It’s all about his ego. He doesn’t give a sh*t about the American people.
Actually, how do we know she’s that smart? Where’s the evidence? Or is this just another convenient meme promulgated by the Trump machine.
She’s way more articulate than the father based on watching her in the Apprentice.
Trump talks in grunts, so of course she sounds smart compared to him.
Why is it sad? She may be many things but stupid isn’t one of them. She probably knows damn well that you can’t tell Trump anything, and trying to give him orders is futile. Tell him flat out not to do a thing and likely as not he’ll go and do it with bells on. Notice she says she gives him feedback, whether he likes it or not. She’s likely an expert at framing her criticism constructively, and planting ideas without being demanding, thus ensuring that they’re heard, and even seem to evolve organically from her dad even though it was her suggestion. But baldly telling him things? Good luck with that.
She’s being trotted out as the most likable Trump, not just her dad’s favorite, but she is for obvious reasons. She’s pretty, successful, has a family, gives intelligent responses to questions and goes a long way towards humanizing her father. She doesn’t shout words about things; she comes across as if she’s considered her position and given thought to what she says (whether you agree with her or not). I’d trot her out at every opportunity and give her the best speaking times too if I was Trump. He’s many things too and stupid isn’t one of them either.
Well said. I even found myself liking the excerpt, until she got to Pence. She lost me at Pence.
Me, too. I thought her answer about disagreeing was tactful. What’s she going to say? My father’s a dick? But the Pence, thing. Nope.
Except she is either uneducated about Pence or she just flat out lied. Pence has decreased the amount of spending on healthcare.
Never said she was right, telling the truth or that I agreed with her, just commenting on how she comes across. Especially as a contrast to her father.
Exactly.
Is she or her brothers really that successful? They were given jobs at their fathers business, not any job either, all in management. They might be as ‘successful’ as Trump is.
I agree, they never went out on there own to make it, they have all been given jobs from Trump, they dont impress me at all, and I listened to the son and younger daugnters speeches last night, and they are both chips of the old block, cringeworthy to listen too.
“I don’t have the money to tell my father to change his approach.”
Fixed it.
Yep, totally fixed!
Well she said hubris. So she keeps invoking her daddy’s name at all times. War tactic.
Probably an unpopular decision, but here it goes: She’s just as bad as her father. She’s her adviser, her husband is her adviser. We’ve all seen how awful he is, how terrible is his campaign, what a creep racist he is. If she or her husband would have had any objections about these aspects they would definitely not have been this involved in everything that he does. But because she’s a blond beautiful lady with 3 adorable kids and poses and an independent, hard working woman, she keeps getting away with it. I can’t believe everybody here gives Catherine such a hard time and Ivanka is portrayed as the poor father’s daughter who just has to support her father. Frankly, that’s super disappointing.
Of course she is just as bad as her father, she is an extension of him only packaged different. I can’t stand looking at trumps sons they have a punch able quality to them because they look like him, where she doesn’t. I wonder what ivana thinks of all this?
I doubt Ivana thinks there’s anything wrong with what’s going on. He kept Mein Kaumpf on his nightstand, and she was apparently fine with it until she bumped into his mistress while on a family vacation. She enabled him, as Ivanka now enables him.
Agreed. I don’t understand the pass she gets either. I’ve never heard her disagree with any of her father’s views. Its always, ‘I disagree in private’. I highly doubt that.
For what it’s worth, I think she’s (almost) just as bad as her father, too. Another big fat phony.
She is a complete poser, who is daddy’s favourite, so there is no way she is going to disagree with him.
a friend said that she met trump and daughter at a business meeting. said that ivanka shook her hand but didn’t even look at her while shaking her hand. sounded pretty arrogant to me.
Exactly! Why do people think she’s been dragged kicking and screaming?
I’m glad someone finally said it! Kudos.
I agree, she doesn’t get a pass and she’s responsible for helping to ”humanise” a very dangerous man who will cause a huge amount of destruction if he were to get into power. So she’s equally dangerous, I agree. She’s always seemed too polished to me; very articulate, affable, etc – but I think it’s all surface, she’s like a Fembot, I think she may have a battery somewhere and she gets plugged in the wall socket overnight. I read somewhere she didn’t really ”attend” Wharton business school, but attended some token lectures and it was dubious as to whether she got the actual credits. She seems very capable and intelligent but cut from the same bizarre shallow cloth of her father (can you inherit sociopathy?).
Sociopathy can also be a cu;ture. For example, whole families can be sociopathic, like the Mafia. The only difference from Mafia families is that the Trump family is totally sociopathic with a veneer of class. Every one of this kids, IMO (maybe not Tiffany) is a complete Donald clone.
She’s there to get women to see Trump in another light. She going to go hard on family and working women. And I so so agree that she does not get a pass. She is just like her father, the sons are just like him as well. Worse, actually, because they hide the evil so well.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his kids are encouraging DT’s craziness just so he loses and one of them can come back in four years and run a successful campaign by being just like Dad, except without the circus tent and word vomit. That would most likely be a successful campaign, considering how far good old Dad has done.
Also, the philanthropic causes the trumps may engage in are purely for tax reasons, also.
Can you imagine having her as the conservative presidential nominee in 20 years? I think that’s very likely and would assume she’d have a lot of supporters. Very worrying!
I don’t think your opinion is unpopular at all. I just think people are somewhat sympathetic to the position she’s in. She loves her father. She doesn’t want to hurt him or his campaign. I hope that in her position, I could tell my father I love YOU, but I disagree so strongly with your politics that I can’t be a part of this campaign. But that would be really hard to say to anyone, let alone someone you will probably always see as an authority figure. I’m not sure it’s fair to expect her to do so, though morally, she should. I sound like I’m disagreeing with your statement about what kind of person she is, and I don’t. I’ve never liked her particularly, and find her interviews very self-congratulatory and unrealistic. But I do think she’s in a bad spot, assuming she disagrees with him, and I don’t give her a pass, but maybe filter her responses through that lens.
I don’t know. I get that she had to appear by his side at conferences and other media events but she couldn’t have totally said no to being an advisor. I also haven’t noticed any change in Drumpf’s attitude towards minorities, other countries or in his presidential programme, etc. since she’s been his trusted advisor.
Go away I can’t stand you and your orange father.
Ivanka is Yara Greyjoy.
The two boys are both Theons.
And poor Tiffany is the Jon Snow of the family.
Poor Tiffany is right. I watched Drumpf Jr’s interview last night. His words – “my brothers and my sister….”. He very obviously included a ten year old boy in the family decision making, but not the non-Ivanka adult sister.
And Ivanka wishes she were Yara Greyjoy.
Didn’t Trump himself even leave poor Tiffany out the other night when speaking at the RNC introducing Melania and talking about his children? At least, I think that’s when it happened, because they said she was out in the audience.
Yara Greyjoy? That amazing, strong, sexy and ferocious “good guy” on GOT? Theon? Jon Snow? Even Cersei is too good for a Trump comparison.
Ivanka isn’t Yara Greyjoy. She’s Tommen. She’s a pawn being used.
A pawn doesn’t advise the king. She’s no pawn.
I am insulted that Yara Greyjoy was brought into this discussion. American exceptionalism, colonialism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, and bigotry are so not Yara Greyjoy.
Ivanka is the Red Witch. She seems to be alluring and appealing but it’s a cover for her true appearance.
Also- she’s wrong as fuck about who the next leader is supposed to be.
Hopefully, Tiffany Trump (the basement baby of the Trump klan) isn’t Shireen Baratheon.
Hey, I’ll back you up on this one! Ivanka IS like Yara insofar as she’s the clear heir/leader of the next generation even though males are also available, in an otherwise backwards-seeming, belligerent family. And for goddess’s sake, the Greyjoy motto is “we do not sow” it’s hardly a poor comparison to the Trumps. And no matter how unflattering your take on Ivanka is, her image is clearly the best of the lot (except for maybe Tiffany and the little boy, who are basically blank slates as far as the public is concerned). Just one anti-Trump, GOT fan’s take.
If you have a chance read the New Yorker article by the ghostwriter for Trump’s Art of the Deal. The author goes into detail about Trump’s personality and one of the scariest things is that he doesn’t listen to anyone. He also has a very short attention span. So it is possible that Ivanka is reading him the riot act and he is just not listening. The guy just lies all the time and always goes off course. That is what is scary about considering him as potential president. He will say whatever he wants, whenever he wants if it works for him.
That was some article. I believe every word of it.
Yup I read bits about it too. Also, as a daughter with a stubborn father you could be yelling about an issue for hours and the father will not budge in his beliefs. Just saying, it’s harder than anyone thinks. Ok, so she may dispute him privately but consider this, she’s on his payroll in the company, she probably receives a tidy trust fund from him too. So in all honesty, how far does she want to push things if it jeopardizes her livelihood.
We can all say “I will never do that for a parent..” but come on, how many of us will actually follow through? Duty and she is financially reliant on DT. That’s enough to push her into the talking puppet role.
She is not at the mercy of circumstance. She chose this. She had a choice.
Ivanka knows that she’s nothing (at least, not regarding the stuff that they hold to be important) without her dad, plain and simple.
I think she wrote Melania’s speech, which is why we haven’t heard about anyone getting canned for it.
She’s what she is because of how she was raised. Nothing interesting about her.
Boy, that middle son of hers is all Trump.
Why are we supposed to care what Ivanka thinks about her troglodyte father?
“I wouldn’t have the hubris to tell my father to change his approach.” Got news for you, honey — don’t think your father listens to anyone but his own ego anyway.
I stopped at “I want my children to see me first every morning” not “I want to see my children first every morning.” This can be interpreted in many ways.
Nice catch! Very telling.
Yes, she is so self-absorbed.
I think she is racist too!
Sitting by and endorsing Trump’s behavior is just as bad. History has shown that the do nothing are just as complicit in wrongdoings. As a Jew, Ivanka should know how Hitler’s benign vision led to mass extermination of her Jewish people!
She became Jewish so her husband’s family would accept her as they are super orthodox. She went along with it, because his family is also super rich. I don’t have high hopes that she’s looking out for the greater good of “her Jewish people.”
For someone who claims to be Modern Orthodox, she seems to have missed the boat on modesty, for starters. I believe she converted to marry him. I doubt that she cares about the Jews but does a good job of paying lip service when it matters.
Invanka must be just as bad as him, she just hides it better. Otherwise, how can she stand by publicly while he makes all manner of racist, sexist, bigoted remarks? I don’t expect any child to publicly denounce their own father. But to take such a central role in his campaign? Implies active endorsement imo.
This, this, and this. She may not be just as bad, but I can’t ignore how actively she is campaigning for him and her husband being so involved. It’s disappointing and says a lot about her that is not admirable..
The hubby’s family publicly denounced his role in the campaign after the jewish star fiasco. I don’t think the hubby is close to the family. He pretty much joined the Trump ranks.
It’s all about power. Her father’s, hers and her husband’s, and husband’s newspaper and other entities.
The race stuff and the bashing of this and that minority and the islamophobia. That’s to motivate older angry white males to the polls. Period and full stop. It’s just a tool. Throwing that group some red meat. Suuure we’ll build a wall to keep brown people out. Suuure we’ll get your job back from India. Suuuure we’ll deport Muslims. To most of Trump’s base it matters less that he does it and more that he SAYS it. Be it as a dog whistle or just straight up. It’s why David Duke of the KKK says he’s our guy- he’s signaling us, he literally said that.
Angry white guys are the tool they’re using to get in.
The wall is part of the Republican platform.
Trump has hurt his brand beyond repair. If his daughter were as smart as her daddy thinks she is, she would distance herself and use her government last name. Instead, she believes daddy is shining and she hopes to benefit from said shine. Disgusting family.
If you want to see what Ivanka is about, just look at the way she side-eyes Tiffany Trump! She’s a cut-throat b***h. #TeamTiffany
I feel bad for Tiffany Trump…I don’t think DT wanted her in the first place and the other ones treat her like a pariah.
I don’t know that they treated her like a pariah. She was raised in California by her mother. Marla has pretty much said she raised her alone. How much did the much older children really see her as she was growing up? I doubt much, just when she would come to visit for holidays or summer vacation visits probably, for the most part. So it wouldn’t really be a close relationship. They were a lot older anyway, so wouldn’t have the same kind of bond as with the siblings they grew up with.
Surely an adult Ivanka trump would understand that the Tiffany girl had no hand in breaking up her parents but her mother Marla Maples did that? Or do Trumps sink so low to attack the (adult) child for the deeds of the parent?
I remember admiring Jeffrey Dahmer’s parents for – despite the world’s horror and disgust – not abandoning their son and continuing to love him, even as horrified and disgusted they themselves were by his crimes.
So I don’t blame Ivanka for continuing to love that monstrous, racist, life-sized Cheeto, but by supporting his presidency and by sounding rational and reasonable and therefore normalizing his insanity? I totally blame her and will always feel genuine contempt for her choice to help foist racism and ignorance on a nation that is already drowning in it.
Well put.
Sigh…JFK Jr. I forgot how handsome he was. Such a shame.
He was a very good looking man, it is really sad, cant beleive it is 16 years ago, tragic.
The Republican National Convention is all about hate. It astounds me what I’m hearing when I try to watch parts of it or read about it. His kids’ speeches aren’t going to offset that.
I feel sorry for Hillary, no one deserves that, I just hope the Democratic convention next week is classy and dont stoop to this kind of thing, its so childish ‘lock her up’ etc,every speaker that has spoke has only rundown Hillary, they have spoken of no policies or how they are going to make ‘America great again’, it s just terrible. Are conventions in America usually like this, because the whole thing looks ridiculous.
I don’t know why these candidates put their kids out there like this—I had forgotten Tiffany Trump even existed until last night.
She’s 21–I’m pretty sure the last thing she wanted to do was speak at the Convention but after the Melania debacle they needed another female surrogate out their ASAP.
Whether it’s Ivanka or Chelsea Clinton (the two used to be good friends by the way) I cringe every time I see the children put out their to do their parents’ bidding.
The article in the New Yorker is horrifying.. I would suggest reading it right away:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all
TLDR narrative as follows:
– Trump inherits millions from father.
– Gambles daddy’s money away on crazy schemes
– Gets Tony Schwartz to write Art of the Deal
– Tony shadows him for research and realizes he is an ADD Ponzi scheme nightmare
– Book is complete lies and omissions
– Book makes millions
– Trump gambles book money away over two decades, declares bankruptcy
– Mark Burnett reads Art of the Deal thinks it could make a good reality show
– Apprentice is a hit
– that is not enough for trump
– trump wins presidency
– food and water running scarce, i hear them coming… this will be my last entry
It wouldn’t be hubris.
But courage, Decency. Backbone. Morals. Intelligence. Education.