-(4)-1731951738-q80.webp){kind=small}
Ivanka Trump, eldest daughter of President-elect Donald Trump and a former senior adviser in his administration, recently shared her thoughts on politics and her decision not to rejoin her father’s second term in office.
Speaking on the “Him & Her Show” podcast released Tuesday, Trump called politics “a very dark, negative business,” a world she is choosing to leave behind to focus on her family and personal values.
“I love policy and impact. I hate politics. And unfortunately, the two are not separable,” said Ivanka, who moved to Florida in 2022 after her father left the White House. Reflecting on her time in Washington, she said, “There is a darkness to that world that I don’t really want to welcome into mine.”
The mother of three emphasized that her primary focus has shifted to her family. “My primary goals were just to be the best freaking mom I could be,” she said.
While acknowledging the challenges of balancing work and motherhood, Ivanka added, “I think I was there for all the really critical moments, but you don’t want to miss the small ones either.”
Ivanka, 43, said the decision not to rejoin the administration was rooted in her core values. “It’s very easy to make a decision when it aligns with your core values. And my highest, most core value is family,” she explained. “I know the cost, and it’s a price that I’m not willing to make my kids bear.”
She also addressed the “storm” of public scrutiny surrounding her as her father prepares for a second term.
“To some degree, I’m at the center of the storm because my father is about to be president, but it’s a very dark, negative business. Some people love the gladiator aspect of it — the fight. That was never me.”
Despite stepping away from politics, Ivanka expressed her gratitude for the positive impact she was able to make during her time in the administration.
“I really did love the impact, especially as time went on,” she said. “I’ve gone through years of craziness, and I’ve never become cynical about the fundamental goodness of people.”
Looking ahead, Ivanka hopes to continue making a difference outside of Washington. “Hopefully I’ll live a life that continues to be impactful, regardless of where I do it,” she said.
Although she won’t be serving in an official capacity, Ivanka plans to support her father in other ways during his presidency. “It’s the world’s loneliest position — the enormity of the decisions you’re making on a daily basis, how transactional everyone is with you,” she said.
Ivanka revealed her intentions to provide her father with a sense of normalcy and comfort. “I think I’m most looking forward to just being able to show up for him as a daughter and be there for him to take his mind off things, to watch a movie with him, or watch a sports game,” she shared.
“To know that he can be with me, and be himself and just relax, and for me to be able to provide that for him in a very loving way as his daughter,” Ivanka concluded.
