With Ivanka Trump, the Role of First Daughter May Evolve

Catherine Lucey READ TIME: 2 MIN.

With Ivanka Trump, the typically minor role of a first daughter could get a major makeover.

She was a key player in her father's winning campaign, and people are closely watching the next moves by President-elect Donald Trump's 35-year-old daughter.

She's attended her father's transition meetings with high-profile figures, including the Japanese prime minister and technology leaders, and has indicated her interest in working on policy issues such as child care.

The Trump Organization executive vice president also owns her own company that sells clothes and jewelry. While three of Donald Trump's adult children are viewed as close advisers, he often highlights Ivanka and has made clear that he'd love to have her with him when he moves into the White House.

It's not clear whether that would be in a formal position. But Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway suggested this past week that there may be an exception to anti-nepotism laws for Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who runs a real estate and construction business.

Previous first daughters have played a social role in the White House.

During Harry Truman's presidency, when his wife, Bess, was home in Missouri, their daughter Margaret would play hostess. But it would be "unprecedented" for Ivanka Trump to serve as a close adviser, said Katherine Jellison, who heads the history department at Ohio University.

"If there was ever a first daughter who played such a close advisory role to her dad, she really kept it under cover," Jellison said.

What we know so far about Ivanka Trump:

THE BUSINESS

With the Trump family, everything comes back to the vast family business empire.

Ivanka Trump, one of Donald Trump's three children with his first wife, Ivana, is an executive vice president of the business along with brothers Donald Jr., 38, and Eric, 32. Just how the president-elect will handle his business interests remains unclear. Trump has said he will turn management over to his sons and executives.

Ivanka Trump has her own business to consider as well. She recently drew criticism after her company promoted a $10,800 bracelet she wore during a "60 Minutes" interview on CBS. The spokeswoman for the company later apologized.

Since then, Ivanka Trump has sought to put some distance between herself and her fashion business. A letter posted on her website said that she would separate her social media accounts from her company's.

But questions continue to come up. Earlier this month, Eric Trump offered a "Private Coffee with Ivanka Trump in NYC" on a charity fundraising website. But after drawing high bids - and a New York Times story - the auction appeared to have been removed from the website Friday. The Trump organization did not respond to a request for more details.


by Catherine Lucey

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