Ivanka Trump Thinks She Can Stay Out Of Politics

On Monday, the first daughter once again downplayed her influence on her father’s political decisions. “I try to stay out of politics," Ivanka Trump said during a Fox & Friends interview. But given that she fills an official role in the White House as a senior adviser and has actively stumped for her father since his campaign began, critics argue that this claim is baseless and misleading to the public.

"His political instincts are phenomenal," Ivanka said about her father. "He did something that no one could have imagined he'd be able to accomplish. I feel blessed just being part of the ride from day one and before. But he did something pretty remarkable. But I don't profess to be a political savant."

But prior to claiming to stay out of politics during the Fox & Friends interview, the first daughter elaborated on how she advises her father on policies, effectively involving herself in the world she claims to distance herself from. Responding to a question regarding the left's belief that President Trump's administration is performing poorly, Ivanka insisted she focuses on the positive when giving her father feedback:

So naturally, there are areas where there is disagreement — we're two different human beings. So I instead like to focus on areas where I can add positive value, where I can contribute to the agenda. Policies around workforce development, about insuring that barriers are removed for the American working family, policies that enable that family to thrive.

She additionally listed ensuring proper care for veterans and tackling the "really devastating opioid problem" in America as issues she'd be interested in working on.

Ivanka Trump was a prominent figure in the effort to improve her father's unpopularity among American women during the 2016 election. She took the stage at the Republican National Convention to support paid family leave, eliminating the wage gap, and better childcare. She's continued to position herself as a champion for women's empowerment in the workplace. In April, she released Women Who Work, a book advising women on how to reach professional success while maintaining a happy family and making time for self-care.

In an April interview with Gayle King, the first daughter was asked to comment on criticisms that she and her husband, Jared Kushner — who have both donated heavily to Democrats in the past — are "complicit" in the controversial policies being pushed by the White House.

She responded, “If being complicit is wanting to — is wanting to be a force for good and to make a positive impact then I’m complicit." She further asked that her "lack of public denouncement" regarding her father's policies not be conflated with silence.