Ivanka Trump is looking to lower expectations on what she can accomplish in the Trump administration, as she faces increasing criticism for some of her father’s more controversial decisions.
Trump, a White House adviser, is frustrated with her critics for misunderstanding the power she has to persuade her father into changing his views, Politico reported.
“She’s in there doing what she can,” said longtime friend R. Couri Hay.
The first daughter has pushed for a child care tax credit to be part of tax reform, and wants the 2018 budget to include paid family leave. She helped start a World Bank fund aimed at helping female entrepreneurs. Trump also played a prominent role during the president’s first two trips abroad.
But after President Trump’s abrupt decision to ban transgender people from serving in the U.S. military, her critics are back to questioning why she didn’t sway her father’s mind.
“Actions speak louder than words,” said national press secretary for Human Rights Coalition Sarah McBride. “Either Ivanka is ineffective in her advocacy within the building, or her voice doesn’t matter to the president as much as she hopes it does.”
Trump has said she doesn’t want to ruin her credibility with Republicans, whose support she needs to achieve her policy goals, by publicly disagreeing with the administration’s conservative policies.
