Ivanka Trump continues to be dad Donald Trump's fiercest public defender despite severing political ties as she gears up for RNC

SURFSIDE, FLORIDA: Ivanka Trump continues to be a prominent advocate for her father, Donald Trump, despite distancing herself from politics. 

The former first daughter will grace the Republican National Convention, as told by a source to Daily Mail, but she will be there in a personal capacity to extend support to her father.

She will be present at the Milwaukee event on Thursday, July 18, to witness the former president's formal acceptance of the Republican Party’s nomination.

However, the insider clarified that Ivanka "will not serve in any political capacity at the event as a delegate, fundraiser or otherwise."

While other members of the Trump family are expected to be present, Ivanka's stance notably contrasts her prominent involvement in the 2020 and 2016 conventions.

This shift in her involvement in politics came after Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. 

Ivanka Trump refrained from getting involved in Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign to prioritize her children

Last week, Ivanka participated in a rare hour-long interview, in which she opened up about her decision to step away from politics. 

She told podcast host Lex Fridman that she wanted to dedicate more time to her three children and felt like she had "left it all on the field" after serving four years in the White House.

"I spent four years in Washington. I feel like I left it all on the field. I feel really good about it and I feel really privileged to have been able to do what I did," said Ivanka. 

Ivanka served as a senior advisor in the Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, but she has refrained from being involved in his reelection bid.

Following the MAGA strongman's announcement of his reelection bid last year, Ivanka stated on social media that she loves her father but will not be actively participating in politics. She did not attend his announcement speech or the first presidential debate.

"I love my father very much. This time around, I'm choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena," stated Ivanka at the time.

Unlike her brothers, Ivanka wasn't present at her father's New York hush money trial. However, she did join former First Lady Melania Trump at Trump Tower after the jury found him guilty on all 34 counts. 

Ivanka, with 7.5 million followers on Instagram and 10.4 million on X (formerly Twitter), could still be a significant influencer and defender of her father even if she chooses to stay away from politics.

When Fridman asked her to elaborate on her statement now that the 78-year-old former president has almost secured the Republican nomination and might emerge victorious in November, she replied, "It was a decision rooted in me being a parent, really thinking about what they need from me now."

"Politics is a rough business and I think it's one that you also can't dabble in, I think you have to be either all in or all out," added Ivanka. 

She mentioned the impact her absence would have on her children if she were to fully commit to the Trump campaign, stating, "I'm not willing to make them bear that cost."

"As their mom, I think it's really important that I do what's right for them. I think there a lot of ways you can serve, the enormity, the scale of what can be accomplished in government service, but I think there's something equally valuable in helping in your own community," asserted the mother of three. 

She also added that there was "a lot of darkness, a lot of negativity" in politics which doesn't align with "what feels good for me as a human being."

Ivanka Trump says serving in Donald Trump's White House was an 'extraordinary experience'

Fridman also asked Ivanka about how her father's presidency has affected her own life.

She shared, "Nothing about our lives had been constructed with politics in mind. It was an extraordinary experience, there was so much intensity so much scrutiny and so much noise. That took, for sure, a moment to acclimate to. I'm not sure I ever fully acclimated to it." 

Ivanka noted "the process" of learning about the day-to-day operations of the presidency during her time as a senior adviser as "the most extraordinary part" of the Washington years.

She also mentioned the pressure of assisting her father, who transitioned from a political outsider to the leader of the free world.

"My father had never spent the night in Washington, DC before staying in the White House," claimed Ivanka, adding, "He trusted us and our ability to execute and there wasn't a part of me that could imagine a 70 or 80-year-old version of myself that would have been ok with saying no."

Ivanka Trump has focused on charitable work and reconnecting with old friends since leaving the White House

Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, distanced themselves from the chaotic world of politics and relocated to Florida with their children - Arabella, 12, Joseph, 9, and Theodore, 8, after Trump departed from the Oval Office in January 2021. 

Since leaving the White House, Ivanka has been focused on charitable work and reconnecting with old friends.

She has been spotted with Lauren Sanchez and Kim Kardashian, with whom she has been friends for several years. Their bond strengthened when they began collaborating on prison reforms. Kardashian met with then-President Trump to discuss this subject, with Ivanka and Jared joining them.

Ivanka has also been visible in the Miami social scene, attending events such as Art Basel.

According to a source close to her who reported to PEOPLE Magazine, Ivanka "basically wants a new life to compensate for what she lost when she spent four years in her father's Washington."

They added, "She misses her active social life and group of friends."