# Ivanka - de facto First Lady in the event of a Trump presidency? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2016, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702 "2016-02-10T11:43:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/41 "2016-02-11T00:53:11Z")
Thanks, **tomndebb**. I’d thought about asking that it be moved to IMHO anyway. As I said upthread I think it was a mistake to put it in Elections, and I’d rather have a discussion/get opinions rather than political ranting. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/42 "2016-02-11T00:58:51Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Yeah, he has a habit of saying crude things… You can pretty much stop right there. Why on earth would anyone vote for a man who, at sixty-nine years old, still hasn’t mastered the art of self control? Commander-in-Chief? Way too emotional for the job. Fired. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/43 "2016-02-11T01:10:13Z")
It isn’t that Trump hasn’t mastered the art of self-control. It’s just that he uses a different kind than you’re used to. No one could achieve the successes he’s had without the ability to exercise self-control in important ways. But he’s made no bones about having no patience for political correctness and therefore he doesn’t rein himself in as you would expect. Plus I’m convinced that a lot of what he says is for public consumption and that he’s a much different person behind the scenes. Not only does his business success inform that opinion but it’s also reflected in the comments of almost everyone who’s appeared on _The Apprentice_ and been willing to talk about their experiences with him. Still, this is one of the areas where Ivanka might prove invaluable. She seems as tactful and charming as he is gruff and outspoken, and like I said in the OP I think she’d be a hell of an asset in dealing with Congress and foreign leaders and dignitaries. And like her father, she seems to be quite the multi-tasker and would probably be able to juggle these different duties with ease. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/44 "2016-02-11T01:12:51Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > If he were truly a sexist, racist, facist anywhere but in the minds of his political opponents you might have a point. But he isn’t in reality, so you don’t. Given the number of [explicit white supremacists](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-white-supremacists_us_55dce43ee4b08cd3359dc41a) who have endorsed him, I don’t think it’s fair to say this is an impression that exists solely in the minds of his enemies. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/45 "2016-02-11T01:14:06Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So if only the spouse was gay, no one would complain? > 😃 I recall working with a male flight attendant. His suitcase had a pink bumper sticker on it: “I’m not gay. But my boyfriend sure is!” I suspect his boyfriend had the same sticker on his suitcase. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/46 "2016-02-11T01:17:33Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Sure, but that wasn’t my point. My perverted sense of humor is just tickled by how Trump’s xenophobic base would react following his hypothetical election when the First Lady and wife of the newly elected hero steps out and starts talking, and what the xenophobes hear sounds to them like either a Bond movie spy or Natasha Nogoodnick from _Rocky and Bullwinkle_. Let’s not forget that these are the folks still insisting that Obama is illegitimate because … mumble mumble … black … mumble … Kenya … mumble … Muslim … 😃 Granted. It _would_ be funny. I don’t pretend to know how Trump would actually govern, but I doubt it’d be nearly as base-pleasing as his base hopes. So there’s going to be all kinds of rude awakenings for those folks if they elect him. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/47 "2016-02-11T01:22:13Z")
Trump may have a new wife by the election. He seems to trade-in on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/48 "2016-02-11T01:36:23Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Given the number of [explicit white supremacists](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-white-supremacists_us_55dce43ee4b08cd3359dc41a) who have endorsed him, I don’t think it’s fair to say this is an impression that exists solely in the minds of his enemies. There are wacko crackpots in every political ideology, and it’s not only possible but certain in my mind that they’re misreading him the same as many others. To a certain degree Trump himself is responsible for this as he’s the one who’s chosen to come on the way he does, but I’ve followed him for almost 30 years and I can almost guarantee you he behaves differently behind the scenes than his public image suggests. As to any political clout white supremacists may hold, their numbers are infinitesimal and have no bearing on anything Trump or Congress or anyone else is likely to do when it comes to running the country, so basically their endorsement is meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/49 "2016-02-11T01:38:33Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Yeah, he has a habit of saying crude things. He has a habit of **being** crude things. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/50 "2016-02-11T02:01:39Z")
So Ivanka should be First Lady because you find her hotter? Is this seriously what we are spending electrons on? ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/51 "2016-02-11T02:07:12Z")
Since the OP asked for an intelligent response here is one. Every time he appeared at a social function with Ivanka on his arm instead of Melania it would be extremely odd. Political cartoonists, the foreign press and social media would have a field day and would continue to mock him relentlessly for wanting to bang his daughter throughout his extremely short presidency\* \*short because he’ll be impeached within two years since he won’t understand that shouting at people and calling them a pussy doesn’t get things done as president even if you are also a reality star billionaire. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/52 "2016-02-11T02:21:41Z")
I don’t really envision Trump as having Ivanka on his arm. I’m picturing her as more of a floating goodwill ambassador/right hand functionary to Trump, with their public relationship reflecting that. Just because she’d be fulfilling duties normally associated with First Ladies doesn’t mean that they’ll be walking hand in hand, arm in arm, or engaging in any other behaviors one usually associates with the more romantic side of a First Lady’s life. It’s become obvious that Trump’s opponents would have a field day trying to make their relationship into something it isn’t, but I believe that would fade in time as she proves herself. John and Robert Kennedy both came in for a lot of criticism when JFK named his 33-year-old brother Attorney General. In time that faded and RFK became a political heavyweight on his own. Besides, as **JRDelerious** said upthread, other presidential relatives have fulfilled First Lady roles in the past so there is some precedent. I don’t if Melania being in situ would be a stumbling block for the role I envision for Ivanka or not, but I could see her fulfilling many of the functions I mentioned whether Melania was there or not…assuming Melania would want to take on a more active role than her manner so far suggests, that is. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/53 "2016-02-11T03:12:43Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > It’s become obvious that Trump’s opponents would have a field day trying to make their relationship into something it isn’t, but I believe that would fade in time as she proves herself. Only because they would have found something more worthy to mock about Trump. I’m not sure you realise how widely Trump is reviled and seen as a joke outside the US. He’s the epitome of the worst kind of “ugly american”, loud, obnoxious and arrogant. If he does follow through on his promise to “bring back stuff worse than waterboarding” then he can forget ever getting any kind of coalition on military action from his allies. He’d also probably never be able to set foot in Europe after he leaves office, since torture is an international war crime. Notice W Bush has cancelled recent trips to europe for exactly the reason that he genuinely is afraid of being charged for his war crimes if he does. > **[George W Bush cancels visit to Swiss charity gala over fears he could be...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354211/George-W-Bush-cancels-Switzerland-visit-fears-arrest-torture-charges.html)** > > Mr Bush was due to be the keynote speaker at a Jewish charity gala in Geneva on February 12. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/54 "2016-02-11T04:15:36Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I think all but the most dedicated of xenophobes would make an exception for a really hot foreign wife. Particularly/especially one who’s _white_. That’s really a key attribute. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/55 "2016-02-11T04:37:14Z")
I am truly hoping that the % of Trump supporters on SD is \< 1%. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/56 "2016-02-11T05:10:36Z")
It looks that way. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/57 "2016-02-11T06:08:40Z")
One president, Grover Cleveland I think, was single and his sister filled the role. Actually Melanie would do ok since she speaks several foreign languages and would probably be a good host. She also has her own personal staff and runs her own company so she knows how to lead. Most first ladies have had to hire someone to teach them all the niceties of being a good host. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/58 "2016-02-11T06:10:05Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Since the OP asked for an intelligent response here is one. Every time he appeared at a social function with Ivanka on his arm instead of Melania it would be extremely odd. Political cartoonists, the foreign press and social media would have a field day and would continue to mock him relentlessly for wanting to bang his daughter throughout his extremely short presidency\* > > \*short because he’ll be impeached within two years since he won’t understand that shouting at people and calling them a pussy doesn’t get things done as president even if you are also a reality star billionaire. If you ever listen to Nixon’s secret Oval office tapes you’d be surprised how foul the language can be outside the cameras. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/59 "2016-02-11T12:25:52Z")
Does anyone else misread Melania as Melena? [QUOTE=melena] the passage of dark tarry stools containing decomposing blood that is usually an indication of bleeding in the upper part of the alimentary canal and especially the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702/60 "2016-02-11T14:29:08Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > There are wacko crackpots in every political ideology, and it’s not only possible but certain in my mind that they’re misreading him the same as many others. To a certain degree Trump himself is responsible for this as he’s the one who’s chosen to come on the way he does, but I’ve followed him for almost 30 years and I can almost guarantee you he behaves differently behind the scenes than his public image suggests. > > As to any political clout white supremacists may hold, their numbers are infinitesimal and have no bearing on anything Trump or Congress or anyone else is likely to do when it comes to running the country, so basically their endorsement is meaningless. Their endorsement is meaningful in that many folks, myself included, are a lot less likely to support someone if we find out that open white supremacists support them. If Trump wanted to eliminate that possibility, he’d have to strongly and decisively condemn white supremacism, white nationalism, white separatism, and all related philosophies, and he hasn’t don’t that. That’s what any politician should do if they find out that open white supremacists are actively supporting them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivanka-de-facto-first-lady-in-the-event-of-a-trump-presidency/745702.md?page=4)