Ivanka Trump skips her father's 2024 campaign launch despite reported pleading from Trump
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Former President Donald Trump officially launched his 2024 presidential comeback bid on Wednesday before a crowd of about 1,000 guests at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, but only two of his children — Eric and Barron — attended the event, the New York Post reports. Daughter Tiffany is presumably on her honeymoon, having gotten married at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend, while Don Jr. "was unable to make it back from a hunting trip out West in time for the spectacle due to his scheduled flight being scrapped."
Ivanka Trump, a presidential adviser during Trump's four years in the White House, issued a statement before the speech saying she's done with politics. "While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena," she said on Instagram. "This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family," she added. "I do not plan to be involved in politics."
Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, also a senior adviser in Trump's White House, moved to Miami after Trump lost his reelection bid. "We will continue to support my father — as his kids," Ivanka said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ivanka's absence Tuesday night is notable because "Trump spent part of daughter Tiffany's lavish Mar-a-Lago wedding" over the weekend "begging" Ivanka and Jared "to be with him on stage when he announces his third consecutive run for the presidency," the Post reported Monday, citing sources.
"Trump thought he could convince Ivanka this weekend to come back and campaign for him ... but so far she's resisting his entreaties and holding firm, as is Jared," one insider told the Post. "They both feel they got burned in Washington and don't want to go back and expose themselves and their children to another bitter campaign." The couple's resistance to Trump's pleading created "extra behind-the-scenes tension" at the wedding, the source added.
If Trump couldn't "persuade Jared and Ivanka to present a united Trump family front to the watching world," the Post reported, he was likely to give his speech alone on the stage. And he did. But while Ivanka skipped the campaign launch, "Kushner and Kimberly Guilfoyle attended to show their support," Fox News reports. Don Jr., Eric, and Eric's wife, Lara Trump, are said to be all-in on Trump's third presidential run.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Quiz of The Week: 14 – 20 FebruaryQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Do the Freemasons have too much sway in the police force?Podcast Plus, what does the growing popularity of prediction markets mean for the future? And why are UK film and TV workers struggling?
-
Properties of the week: pretty thatched cottagesThe Week Recommends Featuring homes in West Sussex, Dorset and Suffolk
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Should the EU and UK join Trump’s board of peace?Today's Big Question After rushing to praise the initiative European leaders are now alarmed
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Kurt Olsen: Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ lawyer playing a major White House roleIn the Spotlight Olsen reportedly has access to significant US intelligence
