Trump should have fired Jared and Ivanka (or had someone else do it) when he had the chance. Their self-imposed distance from his political operations may be perceived as a blow to his ego and a sign of their wavering loyalty. Despite Trump’s recent claim that he made the decision to remove them from his hypothetical second administration, insiders suggest otherwise.
According to sources within Trump’s inner circle, the former president actually wanted Jared and Ivanka to be part of his 2024 campaign. However, the couple declined the offer, indicating that they have no intention of aligning themselves with Trump in the future. These sources dismiss Trump’s attempt to portray their departure as his own decision, emphasizing that it was actually a result of Jared and Ivanka’s unwillingness to remain affiliated with him.
The revelation of Trump’s desire to remove his daughter and son-in-law from the White House is not entirely surprising. Back in 2018, there were reports that he had asked then-Chief of Staff John Kelly for assistance in pushing Jared and Ivanka out. However, Trump’s mixed messages and reluctance to follow through resulted in their continued presence within his administration.
“No. I said, that’s enough for the family. You know why? It’s too painful for the family,” Trump replied.
He went on to claim his children had “been through hell,” noting that Ivanka was forced to shutter her clothing line (after sales started tanking).
“Nobody has been through what my family has been through,” Trump told Baier. “Ivanka had a really successful line of clothing. I mean, making a fortune. When I did this, she was really — she closed it up.”
The Daily Beast reports that Trump’s current advisers rejoiced in Schadenfreude upon hearing his confirmation that Jared and Ivanka are gone for good. Some expressed their satisfaction by sending transcriptions of Trump’s remarks about the couple, while others openly celebrated their departure, labeling Jared as a “double nepo baby.” This suggests that there may have been underlying tensions or frustrations within Trump’s inner circle regarding the influence and role of his daughter and son-in-law.
In hindsight, it appears that Trump missed an opportunity to avoid the humiliation of his trusted advisers distancing themselves from him. While he now presents their exit as a protective measure for their well-being, the truth seems to be that Jared and Ivanka made the choice to disassociate themselves from Trump’s political endeavors. The reasons for this decision remain undisclosed, but it is clear that their absence has left a noticeable void in Trump’s circle of influence.
