Ivanka Trump: My Dad Told Me Two Weeks Before He Ran For President!

My mom taught me to bring intention to everything, and that being underestimated can be a quiet advantage if you do the work and stay ready.

Two weeks before the announcement, your father decides to run for president; what did that mean for you and your business?

He asked Jared and me to help, warned it would get rough, and I said yes; in storms like that, I block out the noise and choose my response.

You rarely do interviews; why now?

I go heads down for long stretches, but I value real conversations with people I respect.

Growing up with fame and privilege can warp trust; how did you handle that?

As a kid I kept my guard up, but I’ve taught myself to trust more so real connection can exist, even if it means getting it wrong sometimes.

When did you feel your life was different?

There were surreal moments, like Michael Jackson at my Nutcracker performance, but my grandmother’s everyday love kept me grounded.

Your mother was a force; how did she shape you?

She was a glamorous trailblazer who showed me you can be a devoted mother and fiercely ambitious; I understand her more deeply since she passed.

Your parents’ divorce hit the tabloids hard; how did that land at nine years old?

The press outside school was brutal, but home felt safe; back then it ended at the door, unlike today’s always-on social media.

What was your bond with your father like then?

He was busy, but always reachable; I’d call from a pay phone and he’d pick up, which told me I mattered.

How did you become your own person within such a public family?

My parents allowed respectful dissent, and I try to see my kids as whole individuals too, not extensions of me.

Real estate is male-dominated; how did you win in that arena?

I was doubly underestimated as a young woman and as the child of famous parents, so I over-prepared, listened more than I spoke, and used silence and empathy to find true win-wins.

What do you hire for?

Agency, judgment, and EQ; I want capable self-starters who are also good people, because life’s too short to build with anyone else.

You built a fashion brand into hundreds of millions in revenue, then shut it; why?

Government ethics rules froze growth and use of my image, so I chose to end on a high and serve, rather than watch it stall.

What did public service give you—and cost you?

It was a privilege that changed me; I’m proud of work on the child tax credit, paid leave for federal workers, skills training, conservation, and anti-trafficking, but my first duty is to my kids, so I stepped back.

What surprised you most inside the halls of power?

Titles aside, people are people; the mystique falls away and any intimidation goes with it.

How did security and the assassination attempt affect you?

Life changed overnight; I’m deeply grateful to the Secret Service, and when I saw the attempt, I was terrified yet somehow knew he’d live—and I focus on that blessing, not bitterness.

You seem Stoic by nature; what guides that?

Meditations and similar wisdom remind me my soul reflects my thoughts; alignment is non-negotiable, and motherhood opened my heart while sharpening my sense of what to let in.

You don’t hit back online; how do you resist?

I think of the eagle and the crow—the eagle climbs until the crow falls away; I rise above instead of wrestling in the mud.

Did you seek therapy to navigate all this?

As an adult I used therapy like meditation—a tool to process Jared’s cancer scare, my mom’s death, and to unpack things before they drive decisions from the shadows.

How do you balance privacy with authenticity?

Be genuine, but protect what’s sacred; be careful in public, and refuse to bring that guardedness into your closest relationships.

Tell me about Planet Harvest and why it matters to you.

We’re unlocking demand for perfectly good produce left in fields—like huge volumes of strawberries rejected for cosmetic specs—so farmers earn more and communities get nutritious food.

With family, investing, real estate, and mission work, how do you keep it together?

Balance is a moving target; I aim for days that align with my priorities and accept the rest.

Any books or philosophies you lean on?

I draw from the Stoics, Buddhism, and the Tao; resist fighting what simply is, and seek the states where you feel most alive.

Our closing tradition: your eldest wants to follow your path; what do you tell her to boost happiness and success?

Love the work because the load gets heavy; be fully yourself rather than a copy; and believe in yourself early, stay resilient, and pivot wisely as reality gives you new data.