I found myself in a discussion on my Facebook page regarding the role Ivanka Trump plays in her father’s administration. My initial comment was the following”

“Dear Ivanka, your father gave you opportunities because your adult brothers are idiots.”

My comment was in response to Ivanka Trump’s presence at the W20 Women’s Conference where she advocated policies favorable to Women that are diametrically opposed to the actual policies of her father. Ivanka spoke of equal pay for women and paid family leave. Ivanka’s own clothing line used suppliers without paid maternity leave. Her father’s cabinet has less diversity including women than any in recent history. She expounded on how well she was treated as his daughter. One of Trump’s ex-wives worked in a Trump company for a salary of $1. Not exactly equal pay.

Photo: twitter.com

While most people that responded generally agreed, one felt that Ivanka had no control over who her father was and shouldn’t be held  responsible. She pointed out Ivanka’s experiences when her father and mother divorced and how the media wrongly mistreated her and I agree it was no way for then teenaged Ivanka to be treated. She thinks Ivanka is being a good daughter and any advocacy is a natural thing. I say she’s a complicit enabler that makes it possible for others to ignore Trump’s misogyny.

Photo: bossip.com

Let’s take a good look and see whether Ivanka is simply being a good daughter, or helps make Trump’s misogynist policies palatable. Let’s take a look.

Photo: yahoo.com

1. One of the questions Ivanka received in Berlin was who did she represent in her role in the Administration. “Your father as President of the United States, the American people, or your business?” Ivanka initially replied, “certainly not the latter!” But is that really true? On the same day she and her father dined with Chinese President Hi Jinping and after Donald gave a positive report of the meeting. The Chinese government granted Ivanka’s companies 7 new trademarks with 32 others pending. Already a multi-millionaire in her own right. Ivanka is racking up due to the role she plays and the nepotism that got her there. Despite the fact that she recused herself from her companies while she serves in the White House. She’s still the 100% owner and is profiting all the same while we ignore her conflicts of interest.
2. Ivanka speaks favorably of programs that empower women. This includes the STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) for young women and girls. What she doesn’t mention is that her father’s budget drastically cuts funding to those programs making it harder for women instead of better. She is the pleasant distraction while he executes his ruthless plan.
3. Ivanka had a ballyhooed meeting with Planned Parenthood leaders shortly after the election. She was represented as being the olive branch. Trump just signed an Executive Order to cut Federal funding from Planned Parenthood. Her father was the saw.
4. Ivanka was asked about the more than a dozen charges of sexual misconduct and assault levied against her father. She explained that it was “the media” and “politics” and assured women that her experience as a daughter was nothing like what those women were saying. She defined her father as being, “a champion for all Americans” including women. Tell that to the Muslim-Americans who watched their family members, some with green cards, unable to get back into the country after Trumps 1^st version of the Muslim Ban. Tell it to African-Americans as Trump tries to bring back “Stop & Frisk” and as he enables Voter Suppression and dismantles Consent Decrees intended to monitor rogue police departments. Tell that to Native Americans who saw him put pipelines ahead of people. Tossing aside past treaties and human rights as well. Tell that to Hispanics who now face checkpoints and see families around them torn apart due to Trump’s immigration policies. Tell it to the citizens of Flint who still don’t have good drinking water. Trump is the champion for all rich Americans as his proposed tax plan makes known.

Ivanka Trump isn’t responsible for developing her father’s policies. He doesn’t know what most of them are himself. Had she stayed on the sideline and simply loved her father in spite of anything others say. I’d have nothing but empathy for her. Since she took a job as a top advisor in the White House. Since she used her access to foreign leaders to expand her businesses. Since she dismissed the claims of over a dozen women who came forward to accuse a powerful man of heinous acts, knowing there would be retribution. Since she knowingly offered the women who voted for Trump a reason to believe he was something other than he was. I say yes she’s complicit. Yes she’s an enabler. And yes she’s taking all that to the bank.

Featured Photo: twitter.com