Ivanka Trump breaks silence on father Donald Trump’s conviction

Ivanka Trump calls politics ‘a pretty dark world’ and explains her decision to step back.

Ivanka Trump has broken her silence regarding her father's felony conviction. In her first in-depth interview addressing the matter, she described the situation as "painful." Speaking on The Lex Fridman Podcast, she reflected on the impact of the legal proceedings on her and her family.

Ivanka, who previously served as a White House adviser, had only briefly addressed the conviction in an Instagram story after the 34-count guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump was announced in late May. However, on Tuesday, she shared more of her thoughts.

When asked why she is less involved in politics than other family members, Ivanka explained, "It’s a pretty dark world. There’s a lot of darkness, a lot of negativity, and it’s just really at odds with what feels good for me as a human being. And, you know, it’s a really rough business. So for me and my family, it feels right to not participate."

Lex Fridman, the podcast host, inquired about the personal impact of her father's legal troubles. Ivanka responded, "On a human level, it’s my father and I love him very much, so it’s painful to experience. But ultimately, I wish it didn’t have to be this way."

Ivanka's remarks coincided with news that her father's sentencing had been postponed. Originally scheduled for next Thursday, the sentencing was rescheduled to September 18 following a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.