Donald Trump ignores daughter Ivanka for Elon Musk and his son in election night family photo

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: In a behind-the-scenes video from election night at Mar-a-Lago, there was a rather awkward moment when President-elect Donald Trump seemed to put his daughter Ivanka on the back burner in favor of his favorite tech billionaire Elon Musk.

The video, shared by Trump’s granddaughter Kai on YouTube, gives a peek into what went down as Trump was celebrating his win as the 47th President of the United States.

In the clip, Trump was busy posing for photos with his grandchildren, his son Don Jr, and his ex-wife Vanessa. Just as someone suggested it was time for a full family photo, Ivanka began stepping into the frame. Elon and his son X Æ A-12 also made their way toward the group at the same time.

Did Donald Trump snub Ivanka Trump for Elon Musk?

Here’s where things got a bit awkward. As Ivanka Trump tried to join in, Trump pointed towards Elon Musk and his son to say, “We have to get Elon with his boy.” It seemed like he wanted Musk to be front and center at that moment, not Ivanka.

Ivanka stepped aside and allowed Elon and his son to take her place. Trump even added a little compliment, calling Musk's son a “gorgeous, perfect boy.”

Ivanka got in the frame only after that photo was wrapped up. She stepped in with her husband Jared Kushner, her brother Eric, and his wife Lara for another round of family snaps. Tiffany Trump joined in too with her husband Michael Boulos.

The family photo session continued as everyone posed for more solo shots. Trump’s granddaughter (and Don Jr's daughter) Kai was right in the mix, capturing several moments of the celebration that evening.

Dressed in a sparkly black mini dress, Kai Trump posed next to her grandfather as he celebrated securing the White House the second time around, defeating Kamala Harris and securing his spot as the next President.

Though Ivanka had stayed away from the campaign trail this time, she was present for the election night soiree at Mar-a-Lago. She stood beside her husband Jared, close to Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife, Usha.

Ivanka Trump’s exit from politics

While the night was filled with heartwarming moments, there’s a reason why Ivanka Trump has been stepping back from politics. Despite once serving as a senior advisor during Trump’s presidency, she has no plans to return to the spotlight.

According to a source close to the family, things took a turn for Ivanka after the January 6 Capitol riot and the ensuing investigations — where she was subpoenaed.

“She felt like she was being asked to reveal something she did not know anything about and she never wants to be in that position again,” the source dished to the Daily Mail. “Her family means the world to her, and she is now focusing on being a mom and other private ventures.”

The insider added that Ivanka is "completely happy where she is in her life" and is "perfectly fine handing the reins to Lara [Trump] this time around. Not her circus, not her monkeys."

The shift makes sense, especially since Lara Trump — who is married to Ivanka’s brother Eric — has been taking on a bigger role during Trump’s campaign. She was by Trump’s side at multiple rallies, including a couple just before election night.

That said, Lara is also the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

Ivanka Trump focuses on family

It's worth noting that Ivanka Trump made her intentions clear even before the 2022 campaign launch. She said in a statement, “I love my father very much. This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics.”

In fact, she wasn’t making any political statements even hours before the election—she was sharing life lessons on Instagram instead.

After celebrating her 43rd birthday, Ivanka posted a list of 16 things she’s learned including gems like “family and friends are everything,” and the importance of forgiveness. She encouraged her followers to “forgive people” and remember that “everyone is a teacher.”

Over the weekend leading up to the big night, she posted serene photos of flowers and horses and steered clear of politics.