Ivanka Trump Says She’s Finished with Politics and Won’t Return

 

Ivanka Trump Announces She’s Done with Politics, Won’t Return

Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of former President Donald Trump, has made it clear that she is stepping away from politics for good. In a recent statement, she revealed that she has no intention of re-entering the political arena, despite the ongoing influence of her family in the political landscape.

After serving as an advisor in her father’s White House, Ivanka has largely distanced herself from politics since the end of her father’s presidency. She took a low-key approach in the aftermath of the 2020 election, opting to focus on her family and business ventures rather than participating in political campaigns or public advocacy.

In her announcement, Ivanka emphasized her desire to prioritize her children and her role as a mother, stating that her decision was driven by her desire to step away from the public spotlight and lead a more private life. She acknowledged the challenges and criticisms that come with political involvement, but expressed a sense of relief in her decision to move on from that chapter.

Though Ivanka has been involved in politics in various capacities over the years—working on issues like women’s economic empowerment and workforce development—her decision to leave the political stage marks the end of her direct involvement in her father’s political endeavors. She has also confirmed that she will not be running for any office in the future, dispelling speculation about a potential political comeback.

Her departure from the political scene is significant, especially given her prominent role within the Trump administration and the speculation that she could one day pursue a political career of her own. However, Ivanka seems focused on her family life and business pursuits, leaving her past political work behind.

While she may be stepping away from politics, Ivanka Trump’s influence within the broader Trump family legacy and the Republican Party remains notable. Whether or not she decides to return to the public eye in some capacity remains to be seen, but for now, she is closing the door on her political ambitions.

For much of her adult life, Ivanka Trump worked alongside her father.

When Donald Trump was a real estate tycoon, she was designing his next hotel. When he starred on a reality TV show, she sat in his boardroom. During his presidential campaign, she was by his side on the trail. And when he became president, she held a position in the West Wing.

But in January 2021, after nearly two decades, Ivanka left Washington—and, for the first time since she was 23—ended her direct professional relationship with her father.

Ivanka Trump’s decision to step away from politics marks a dramatic shift for one of her father’s closest and most influential aides—though one that feels deliberate after the intense and often bruising four years in the White House.

Throughout her time in Washington, Ivanka faced constant scrutiny, much of it tied to decisions made by her father that she had limited ability to influence or moderate. Her relationships with some of her liberal friends in New York soured, and she was forced to shut down her eponymous fashion brand amid lingering ethical concerns. With her departure from politics, Ivanka is no longer under her father’s professional wing, embarking on a new chapter where she is embracing a life that contrasts sharply with the high-profile political world she once inhabited. This shift is possible, in part, because her family’s businesses have thrived from their proximity to the presidency and the connections it brought.

"Politics is a pretty dark world," Ivanka reflected in a candid conversation on The Lex Fridman Podcast in July 2023. "There’s a lot of darkness, a lot of negativity, and it’s just really at odds with what feels good for me as a human being." She described her decision to step away as the right choice for her family, emphasizing that the political sphere didn’t align with her values. "It’s a really rough business. So for me and my family, it feels right to not participate," she added, offering her most substantial public reflection on her time in Washington and what comes next.

Despite her intention to live a more private life, Ivanka’s public profile makes that challenging. As a key member of America’s incoming first family, with a carefully cultivated personal brand and significant influence, she remains a figure admired by many supporters of the president-elect, but also a target for his detractors.

Ivanka continues to maintain a close relationship with her father. A source close to her said they speak regularly, and it’s likely she will continue to offer informal advice on various matters behind the scenes. "She’s still his daughter, and a trusted voice, so in that sense, an informal adviser, as we all are with our family members," said Maggie Cordish, a longtime friend who worked with Ivanka in the West Wing on paid family leave issues.

During her time in the White House, Ivanka’s team worked diligently to highlight her successes and counsel to the president, sometimes using public relations efforts to ensure she received credit for her work while distancing her from less popular policies. She maintained a relatively apolitical portfolio, focusing on initiatives like criminal justice reform, combating human trafficking, and workforce development—issues that resonated less divisively than other political matters.

"Ivanka proudly spearheaded the White House’s efforts and promoted the administration’s success" on these policies, a representative for her stated. Perhaps her most lasting impact on Republican politics came through her advocacy for paid family leave and a child tax credit for working families. "She made those Republican issues. Really, they had not been Republican issues," a former colleague remarked.

However, sources say that if Ivanka continues to offer advice to her father during his second term, it will likely remain behind the scenes, out of the public eye. "It’s never going to be something that people are going to see publicly," a source familiar with her thinking said.

Meanwhile, Jared Kushner, her husband, has also declined a formal role in the incoming administration but is expected to continue advising Donald Trump, particularly on Middle East matters, leveraging his established relationships with regional leaders. Kushner also maintains significant financial interests in the region. In a notable sign of the Trump family’s influence, Jared's father, Charles Kushner, has been named the U.S. Ambassador to France.

From 'Heir Apparent' to a New Chapter

As Trump’s first term came to a close, Ivanka began to adopt a more combative stance, aligning herself more directly with her father’s political rhetoric. She became vocal in criticizing "partisan investigations," described herself as "unapologetically" opposed to abortion rights, and was widely seen as a possible future political candidate, with some sources suggesting Donald Trump viewed her as his "heir apparent."

However, after the end of Trump’s presidency and the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, insurrection, the family chose to leave Washington for a fresh start in Florida—a state with a more welcoming political climate. Ivanka’s decision to move away from the political spotlight may have also been influenced by more personal events, including the unexpected passing of her mother, Ivana Trump, in July 2022.

Reflecting on the loss, Ivanka wrote in an Instagram post, "The loss of a parent is one of life’s very painful passages for which one is never fully prepared. It hits at the very core of your being. And it takes a good amount of time to emerge from how it dislocates you." This deeply personal loss has, no doubt, influenced her desire to step back and focus on her family, marking a significant transition in her life.

For now, Ivanka Trump is charting a new course—one that promises to be less politically charged but still closely tied to her family’s legacy. How much of that path will remain out of the public eye, however, remains to be seen.

Ivanka Trump has also been caring for her 98-year-old maternal grandmother, affectionately known as "Babi," who now lives with the family in Miami.

Her husband, Jared Kushner, has also faced health challenges. In his 2022 memoir, he revealed that he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2019 and underwent surgery to remove a growth on his thyroid. He later had a second thyroid surgery in August 2022, a source close to him confirmed to Reuters at the time.

Friends describe a gradual shift in Ivanka’s public persona, moving away from her more high-profile, combative stance toward a quieter, more private life. This change began after the family’s move to Miami in January 2021, where they initially settled into an oceanfront condo in Surfside before later relocating to a mansion in the exclusive Indian Creek Island enclave.

Multiple friends have shared with CNN that Ivanka is at peace with her decision to step away from politics. She’s focusing on her family, seeking more privacy, and exploring new interests. "Her children are at a critical stage—tweens and teens—and it’s a brief period. She loves being with them and has found a lot of peace and happiness in her private life," said Maggie Cordish, a longtime friend.

Ivanka has immersed herself in a variety of new hobbies. Her social media is filled with photos of her family gardening, practicing jiu-jitsu at the Valente Brothers’ studio, learning to surf at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, playing polo, riding motocross bikes, and enjoying board games together.

In her conversation with Lex Fridman, she explained that her decision to step away from politics was deeply rooted in her role as a parent. "I really thought about what my children need from me right now," she said. "I know the emotional cost they would pay for me being all-in politically, especially at such a formative time in their lives, and I’m not willing to make them bear that cost."