Two of the most important women in former president Donald Trump’s life are his wife, Melania Trump, and his daughter, Ivanka Trump. However, it has come to light that the two actually can’t stand one another, with Melania feeling that her First Lady title was threatened by her step-daughter. Keep reading for all the details via She Finds.
It seems that Melania was one of the less-involved First Ladies that America has seen, but that did not mean she wasn’t proud of the title. As per the outlet, though Melania may have made it seem like she didn’t care, “she was privately obsessed with any mention of herself in the media. It was a role she felt was rightfully hers—and she wasn’t going to see Ivanka take it from her!”
However, according to this source, Melania not only felt threatened, but was a bit afraid as well. “She avoided [Ivanka’s] East Wing office for the entire presidency for fear she’d run into Ivanka,” the source continued.
This was reportedly an issue throughout all of Trump’s presidency. Melania was annoyed by Ivanka’s presence “in the Oval Office for important discussions,” as it prompted the press to talk about her “as if she was first lady,” the source explained.
Melania’s feelings about the situation weren’t unguided, though. According to Katie Rogers, author of American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hilary Clinton to Jill Biden, Ivanka wanted some of that first lady power.
Melania didn’t immediately move into the White House when Trump was elected in order to stay with their son, Barron, in New York, Ivanka wanted to turn Melania’s office into an area “geared toward serving the entire First Family, not just the First Lady.”
And Donald Trump supported this idea. “She was aware that her husband had suggested that his eldest daughter would be helping to share the responsibilities of being First Lady,” Rogers continued. “And this was not a development that pleased her.”
Despite their disagreements during Donald Trump’s presidency, Ivanka and her father appear to have come to an agreement as he seeks reelection this year. Ivanka had initially indicated that she wouldn’t be as involved as before, when her father first announced his candidacy.
“I love my father very much,” she said in a statement. “This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics. While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena.”
It seems that Melania Trump shares the same sentiment as many others, as she has rarely been seen at any of Donald Trump’s campaign events in the past year. Despite Donald Trump’s claims that their relationship is as strong as ever and that Melania would soon be joining him on the campaign trail, there has been no indication from Melania herself that this is the case.
