The relationship between stepdaughter and stepmother is so legendary that it has been a part of several fairy tales over the years in all cultures across the world. Taking a leaf from the same book, Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump have written the rules of their “relationship”.
The dynamics between First Lady Melania Trump and her stepdaughter, Ivanka Trump, have always been a topic of public gossip and media speculation. In politics, optics is everything. No matter what happens behind closed doors, in front of the camera, the families will stand united and smiling.
https://youtu.be/22UkcHnaNt4?si=EaSX12wmF9twtDxp
However, this strategy fails miserably when these two ladies grace the carpet in front of the media. The temperature goes down several notches, and the cold and competitive dynamic between the two women is at full throttle.
During Donald Trump’s first administration, the lack of affection and respect was visible, so much so that even late-night hosts could not let go of the opportunities. Now, the years have passed, and Donald Trump is president again; however, the friction between the heels of the First Lady and First Daughter remains the same, and there seems to be no progress in mending the fence.
In her book, Melania mentions the “intricate dynamics” of her relationship with Ivanka. She says, “I had to patiently explain that I was main beneficiary now, that her new nose wasn’t an improvement and that Ivanka isn’t a real name so I was just going to call her Lara” pic.twitter.com/FMsWWvOqoG
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) October 9, 2024
The cause of friction between Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump has always been about their role in the White House. Ivanka has been her father’s favorite from the beginning, and Melania is, of course, the “wife”. Trump’s art of dealing could not deal with these women’s egos, not in his first term, nor did he seem to be working towards it in his second term.
Melania initially remained in New York City so that her son Barron could finish the school year. During this time, Ivanka stepped into a prominent role in Washington. Sources claim that she made efforts to redefine the East Wing. She also tried to expand the depth of influence of the First Lady’s office in her absence. All these are traditionally the First Lady’s domain.
This move, however, did not sit well with Melania Trump. It was obvious that she viewed Ivanka’s involvement as her overstaying her welcome at the White House.
Then, Donald Trump made the grave mistake of suggesting that Ivanka could help Melania with her First Lady responsibility. This, of course, did not sit well with Melania or any of her fans. The first lady has her own staff at the East Wing. Many first ladies before Melania have taken over the responsibility without any “familial” help.
This suggestion reportedly displeased Melania as the offer seemed to indicate that she was not capable of handling things on her own. This was then followed by an internal power struggle between the two women. They both seemed to be vying for influence, visibility, and control. They both wanted to be the face of the White House during ceremonial roles.
Melania Trump to stick by Donald as Ivanka stays away, sources https://t.co/2EkBv5rAgO pic.twitter.com/n8QYzHDi7A
— Page Six (@PageSix) June 9, 2023
The chilly dynamic between Melania and Ivanka is still evident. At Donald Trump’s recent second-term inauguration, there was a noticeable absence of engagement between the two women, and it was telling. While both were present to support the president, sources close to the family described the mood as distant rather than warm or familial.
Ivanka Trump is reportedly “warming” to the idea of taking on a role in the White House if her father wins the presidential election in November. https://t.co/VZnFKNg9gD
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) May 7, 2024
Ivanka has publicly stepped back from political life. This was after the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol. But then there were whispers of her keen on joining the White house once again. However, she remains a visible presence in Donald’s personal and legal affairs.
She has expressed support for her father, but none of her actions have indicated any initiative to repair her relationship with Melania Trump. According to sources, Melania is also not very keen on repairing whatever is left of the relationship between them. She still hasn’t forgiven Ivanka for overstepping her boundaries in the past.
