Ivanka Trump says she was dad Donald's 'top priority' despite busy life: 'He was available to me'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, shared insights into her relationship with her father during a Thursday, April 9, appearance on 'The Diary of a CEO' hosted by Steven Bartlett.

During the interview, Ivanka kept a straight face as she rejected the host’s description of her parents as “absent.” She remained calm and composed while answering honestly throughout the conversation. The first daughter shared that although Trump was "less present" while fulfilling the "typical male role" of that time, she never felt neglected.

She suggested her upbringing was more nuanced than the label implied. Ivanka also highlighted the strong bond she shares with her father, offering a more personal perspective on their family dynamic.

Ivanka Trump never doubted that she was her dad's 'top priority'

Ivanka Trump, 44, pushed back on the idea that her parents, Donald Trump and Ivana Trump, were "absent," saying they were simply "pursuing their passions" after separating when she was nine. 

When asked directly, "Did you miss him?" Ivanka replied, "No. Because I didn't feel like he was absent. It was just different. Like, he wasn't attending all of our sports games." Her response showed that she viewed her upbringing in a different light than how it might seem from the outside.

She added, "I think it is a little different today for fathers than it was 30 years ago," explaining that she and her husband, Jared Kushner, take a more hands-on role in their children’s lives and are raising their family differently.

Looking back at her childhood, Ivanka spoke about her parents’ dynamic before her father entered politics. She recalled how she learned about their divorce through the media and later appeared alongside him on 'The Apprentice'.

"He filled a more typical male role of that generation where he was less, like, present," she said. "But there was never a doubt in my mind that I was his top priority and that he was available to me."

She further explained, "But you know, my mother wasn't home cooking us meals; my grandmother was. But my mother was home when we ate them. And then she would go out again. She and my father were actively building their life and pursuing their passions."

Ivanka firmly maintained her stance, saying, "She wasn't absent. And neither was my father."

Ivanka Trump opens up about grief after losing mother Ivana

Ivanka also spoke about the loss of her mother, Ivana Trump, and became emotional while describing her experience with grief. For those unaware, Ivana died at 73 on July 14, 2022, after suffering fatal injuries from an alleged fall down the stairs at her Manhattan townhouse. She was later laid to rest at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster

Reflecting on this difficult period, Ivanka shared how deeply the loss affected her, offering a personal glimpse into the challenges she faced while coping with her mother’s death. 

When the host asked her about her mother and what she was like, Ivanka became emotional. She struggled to hold back tears as she remembered her mother. She said, "Try not to cry again. That's okay. She's extraordinary. She was extraordinary." 

Ivanka continued, reflecting on her mother’s life and personality, "She lived a good life, though. You know, I tell myself with? My mom, she really lived. She had fun! Um, so she taught me a lot about just like, you know, the presents I talk about, just like."

She went on to describe her mother’s character and joy for life, adding, "She was very herself and she was very joyful and she loved to dance and she loved to play and so um, she lived. She lived a good life."