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Former first daughter Ivanka Trump has spoken out following the indictment of her father, Donald Trump, by a Manhattan grand jury on Thursday.
As reported by Business Insider, Ivanka Trump took to Instagram Stories to issue a short statement, saying that she is “pained” for both her father and the country.
“I love my father and I love my country. Today, I am pained for both,” the statement began. “I appreciate the voices across the political spectrum expressing support and concern.”
On Thursday, it was confirmed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Donald Trump’s lawyer that a grand jury had indicted the former president. The grand jury had been hearing evidence related to alleged hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, using money from Trump’s company, ahead of the 2016 election.
Ivanka has not been active in her father’s current presidential campaign and released a statement last fall after he announced another run that she wouldn’t be a part of it after she was noticeably absent from the event at Mar-a-Lago.
It came after the New York Post reported that Donald Trump “spent part of daughter Tiffany’s lavish Mar-a-Lago wedding this past weekend trying to convince his much-loved elder daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner to be with him on stage” when he made his announcement.
“I love my father very much,” Ivanka said. “This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics.”
“While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena,” she added, per the Daily Wire. “I am grateful to have had the honor of serving the American people and I will always be proud of many of our Administration’s accomplishments.”
She told Fox News that she is close to her dad and that “hasn’t changed and will never change.”
“I’ve had many roles over the years, but that of daughter is one of the most elemental and consequential,” she said. “I am loving this time with my kids, loving life in Miami, and the freedom and privacy with having returned to the private sector. This has been one of the greatest times of my life.”
As she discussed her three children — Arabella, 11, Joseph, 9, and Theodore, 6 — she noted that they were at “critical ages” and as such she preferred to enjoy “these moments with them.”
“We’re happy where we are right now, and we will continue to support my father — as his kids,” Ivanka Trump added.
Donald Trump Jr. was not in attendance because he was on a hunting trip. Tiffany Trump was also not in attendance after getting married over the weekend. Kushner was at Mar-a-Lago for the announcement.
“America’s comeback starts right now,” Trump said at the time to a room full of supporters. “Unlike other presidents, I kept my promises.”
“The world was at peace, America was prospering, and our country was on track for an amazing future— because I made big promises to the American People and, unlike other Presidents, I kept my promises,” he said. “Under our leadership, we were a great and glorious nation, something you haven’t heard for quite a long period of time. We were a strong nation, and importantly we were a free nation. Now, we are a nation in decline. We are a failing nation.”
Regarding the indictment, Fox News reported on Friday: “The source told Fox News Digital that Bragg had requested Trump’s surrender to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office by Friday — the day after the indictment — but that timeline was extended due to arrangements needed to be made by Secret Service. The source told Fox News Digital Trump will ‘most likely’ surrender on Tuesday.
“Typically, a defendant who surrenders in a nonviolent case would surrender to a central booking location, legal experts have explained. However, special accommodations are likely being arranged because this indictment involves a former president of the United States. The Secret Service and the New York Police Department are expected to play a large role in the process next week,” the report added.
