The New York Times reported Wednesday that Ivanka Trump has accepted a more formal role working for her father, becoming an official “unpaid” adviser.
Relying on family members for advice isn’t unusual for a president, but giving them an office in the West Wing and an official government title has few precedents.
“We are pleased that Ivanka Trump has chosen to take this step in her unprecedented role as First Daughter and in support of the President,” the White House said Wednesday. “Ivanka’s service as an unpaid employee furthers our commitment to ethics, transparency, and compliance and affords her increased opportunities to lead initiatives driving real policy benefits for the American public that would not have been available to her previously.”
While Ivanka pledges not to take a salary for her role, it is deeply troubling that someone with almost zero experience outside of her family’s business will have a say in the biggest issues affecting this country.
As the backlash has deservedly piled up over the new role, Ivanka Trump released a statement Wednesday.
“I have heard the concerns some have with my advising the President in my personal capacity while voluntarily complying with all ethics rules and I will instead serve as an unpaid employee in the White House Office, subject to all of the same rules as other federal employees,” Ivanka said. “Throughout this process I have been working closely and in good faith with the White House Counsel and my personal counsel to address the unprecedented nature of my role.”
Let’s not forget that Ivanka will now join her husband, Jared Kushner, in the West Wing. Both of these people have no experience in any field outside of business – yet, they will have a major say in our foreign policy, trade, immigration, and so on going forward.
Trump also vowed not to take a salary, but then said he would collect a monthly check and then donate it to a charity at the end of the year.
If the president and Ivanka both donate to a charity at the end of the year, that is great. If they accept the salary they said they would refuse, both deserve every ounce of criticism they receive.
It was Ivanka who changed her father’s mind a month ago when he planned to draft an executive order that would have rolled back protections for LGBT Americans.
She has major influence over her father, and we have yet to learn whether that is a good or bad thing.
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