Mar 21, 2017
Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, is to receive a West Wing office next to a National Security Council advisor. She'll receive a security clearance, allowing her to access classified information. And she'll be given government-issued communication devices.
However, Ivanka won't be on the White House payroll, will not be sworn into office, and will not be subject public scrutiny. In short, she will have no official position. The president's daughter promised in a statement to "voluntarily" follow the White House ethics code, according toPolitico.
"People close to Ivanka Trump said that she sees nothing unusual about the arrangement," reports Politico, "it's simply how she has worked with her father for years, as a senior official at the Trump Organization and as Donald Trump's partner on 'The Apprentice.'"
Ivanka also raised eyebrows last week for taking part in an official meeting between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel:
\u201cIvanka at meeting with German Chancellor. Why?\u201d— Eric Lipton (@Eric Lipton) 1489791416
While her involvement in the White House deepens, Ivanka continues to run her multi-million dollar fashion brands--which have close ties to Trump's international empire. (In fact, her business was sued for profiting unfairly from her family's link to the presidency.) Trump has also not divested himself of his businesses.
The brazen flouting of ethics concerns has provoked critics to compare the Trump administration to a kleptocracy:
\u201cThe Trump family behave like classic third world Kleptocrats. And they do so with a brazenness and openness few thought possible in the U.S. https://t.co/h4cTOCQWuK\u201d— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1490048326
\u201cKleptocratic dynasty continues apace. There is no reason Ivanka Trump should get a security clearance allowing her access to govt data. https://t.co/YVjNjFBjAX\u201d— Sarah Kendzior (@Sarah Kendzior) 1490104327
As former labor secretary Robert Reich wrote on Facebook:
Let me get this straight: Ivanka Trump--who has myriad business interests that overlap with her father's--is now moving into the West Wing as a top White House advisor, getting a security clearance and government-issued communications devices. But she's not being sworn in, will hold no official position, and so will not be a government employee who must by law adhere to official ethics rules.
Doesn't the Trump administration have enough ethics problems? Aren't there already enough conflicts of interest to sink a ship?
"It's as if a coup has occurred, and the dictator's family has now moved into the palace--and are about to the loot the country," Reich added. "The utter disdain of the Trumps for ethics is jaw-dropping."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, is to receive a West Wing office next to a National Security Council advisor. She'll receive a security clearance, allowing her to access classified information. And she'll be given government-issued communication devices.
However, Ivanka won't be on the White House payroll, will not be sworn into office, and will not be subject public scrutiny. In short, she will have no official position. The president's daughter promised in a statement to "voluntarily" follow the White House ethics code, according toPolitico.
"People close to Ivanka Trump said that she sees nothing unusual about the arrangement," reports Politico, "it's simply how she has worked with her father for years, as a senior official at the Trump Organization and as Donald Trump's partner on 'The Apprentice.'"
Ivanka also raised eyebrows last week for taking part in an official meeting between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel:
\u201cIvanka at meeting with German Chancellor. Why?\u201d— Eric Lipton (@Eric Lipton) 1489791416
While her involvement in the White House deepens, Ivanka continues to run her multi-million dollar fashion brands--which have close ties to Trump's international empire. (In fact, her business was sued for profiting unfairly from her family's link to the presidency.) Trump has also not divested himself of his businesses.
The brazen flouting of ethics concerns has provoked critics to compare the Trump administration to a kleptocracy:
\u201cThe Trump family behave like classic third world Kleptocrats. And they do so with a brazenness and openness few thought possible in the U.S. https://t.co/h4cTOCQWuK\u201d— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1490048326
\u201cKleptocratic dynasty continues apace. There is no reason Ivanka Trump should get a security clearance allowing her access to govt data. https://t.co/YVjNjFBjAX\u201d— Sarah Kendzior (@Sarah Kendzior) 1490104327
As former labor secretary Robert Reich wrote on Facebook:
Let me get this straight: Ivanka Trump--who has myriad business interests that overlap with her father's--is now moving into the West Wing as a top White House advisor, getting a security clearance and government-issued communications devices. But she's not being sworn in, will hold no official position, and so will not be a government employee who must by law adhere to official ethics rules.
Doesn't the Trump administration have enough ethics problems? Aren't there already enough conflicts of interest to sink a ship?
"It's as if a coup has occurred, and the dictator's family has now moved into the palace--and are about to the loot the country," Reich added. "The utter disdain of the Trumps for ethics is jaw-dropping."
Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, is to receive a West Wing office next to a National Security Council advisor. She'll receive a security clearance, allowing her to access classified information. And she'll be given government-issued communication devices.
However, Ivanka won't be on the White House payroll, will not be sworn into office, and will not be subject public scrutiny. In short, she will have no official position. The president's daughter promised in a statement to "voluntarily" follow the White House ethics code, according toPolitico.
"People close to Ivanka Trump said that she sees nothing unusual about the arrangement," reports Politico, "it's simply how she has worked with her father for years, as a senior official at the Trump Organization and as Donald Trump's partner on 'The Apprentice.'"
Ivanka also raised eyebrows last week for taking part in an official meeting between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel:
\u201cIvanka at meeting with German Chancellor. Why?\u201d— Eric Lipton (@Eric Lipton) 1489791416
While her involvement in the White House deepens, Ivanka continues to run her multi-million dollar fashion brands--which have close ties to Trump's international empire. (In fact, her business was sued for profiting unfairly from her family's link to the presidency.) Trump has also not divested himself of his businesses.
The brazen flouting of ethics concerns has provoked critics to compare the Trump administration to a kleptocracy:
\u201cThe Trump family behave like classic third world Kleptocrats. And they do so with a brazenness and openness few thought possible in the U.S. https://t.co/h4cTOCQWuK\u201d— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1490048326
\u201cKleptocratic dynasty continues apace. There is no reason Ivanka Trump should get a security clearance allowing her access to govt data. https://t.co/YVjNjFBjAX\u201d— Sarah Kendzior (@Sarah Kendzior) 1490104327
As former labor secretary Robert Reich wrote on Facebook:
Let me get this straight: Ivanka Trump--who has myriad business interests that overlap with her father's--is now moving into the West Wing as a top White House advisor, getting a security clearance and government-issued communications devices. But she's not being sworn in, will hold no official position, and so will not be a government employee who must by law adhere to official ethics rules.
Doesn't the Trump administration have enough ethics problems? Aren't there already enough conflicts of interest to sink a ship?
"It's as if a coup has occurred, and the dictator's family has now moved into the palace--and are about to the loot the country," Reich added. "The utter disdain of the Trumps for ethics is jaw-dropping."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.