Ivanka Trump: Politics 'a very dark, negative business'
Ivanka Trump says she has a hatred of politics, calling it a "very dark, negative business," while opening up about her decision not to work in her father's second administration.
"I love policy and impact. I hate politics. And unfortunately, the two are not separable," the eldest daughter of President-elect Trump, who served as his senior adviser in his first term, said in an episode of The Skinny Confidential's "Him & Her Show" podcast released Tuesday.
"There is a darkness to that world that I don't really want to welcome into mine," Trump said when asked by co-host Lauryn Evarts Bosstick about her life after the White House. Trump moved to Florida in 2022, saying at the time she didn't "plan to be involved in politics."
"My primary goals were just to be the best freaking mom I could be," the mother of three said.
"It's hard. I mean, I did the best I could — and I think I was there for all the really critical moments — but you don't want to miss the small ones either," said Trump, 43.
"The main reason I am not going back to serve now is I know the cost, and it's a price that I'm not willing to make my kids bear."
Asked if she's gotten pushback for deciding not to return to Washington, she said, "It really feels like it's very easy to make a decision when it aligns around your core values. And my highest, most core value is family."
"There is a darkness to that world that I don't really want to welcome into mine," Trump said of politics.
"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. And some people love the gladiator aspect of it — the fight. That was never me."
"I really did love the impact, especially as time went on," Trump continued.
"I went through years of craziness, and I've never become cynical about I think the fundamental goodness of people," she said.
"Hopefully I'll live a life that continues to be impactful, regardless of where I do it."
Trump said she hoped she could find ways to support her father as he gets ready for his second term.
"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.
"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 said.
"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."