Ivanka Trump says her father 'clearly' respects women


Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, is the latest to weigh in on whether or not her father has "a penchant for sexism," an accusation leveled against him by Hillary Clinton last week. A powerhouse and real estate mogul in her own right, Ivanka Trump explained to Town & Country that Trump "clearly" respects women — "Otherwise I wouldn't be where I am."
"If he didn't feel that women were as competent as men, I would be relegated to some role subordinate to my brothers," said Ivanka, who serves as the executive vice president of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization. "I think this is one of [Donald Trump's] great strengths: He fully prioritizes merit and accomplishment and skill and ability over background, education, and gender."
When pressed if Trump is a feminist, Ivanka said, "He 100 percent believes in equality of gender, so, yes, absolutely — socially, politically, and economically. [He has] confidence in women to do any job that a man can do, and my whole life has been proof of that."
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But that doesn't mean Ivanka is without her criticisms:
Does [Ivanka Trump] never admonish [Donald Trump] for his more outrageous assertions and personal insults? She smiles, serene as ever. "Well, I'm his daughter. In a political capacity, I don't. It's his campaign. I don't feel that's my role. But I would challenge him as a child. That's what children do. [Ivanka's daughter] Arabella challenges me every day. People ask me, do I ever disagree with my father? It would be a little strange if I didn't." [Town & Country]
Read more in Town & Country.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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