Donald Trump's Controversial Remarks About Daughter Ivanka Spark Years of Backlash
Donald Trump has faced intense criticism over the years for a series of remarks concerning his daughter, Ivanka Trump, with comments ranging from calling her 'hot' to discussing her physical appearance in ways that have repeatedly drawn public scrutiny and backlash. These statements have resurfaced periodically, gaining renewed attention following recent events, including the release of the Epstein Files, despite official investigations finding insufficient evidence to warrant further inquiry into related allegations.
1990s: Early Controversies at Pageant Events
In the 1990s, when Ivanka Trump was just 16 years old, she served as co-host at the 1997 Miss Teen USA pageant in Texas, an event owned by her father. According to reports, Brook Antoinette Mahealani Lee, then Miss Universe, revealed that Donald Trump asked her, 'Don't you think my daughter's hot? She's hot, right?' This incident was not isolated; in 2016, BuzzFeed News published accounts from four women who competed at the time, claiming Trump entered the dressing room while underage contestants were changing. Miss Vermont Teen USA Mariah Billado recalled thinking, 'Oh my god, there's a man in here,' with Trump responding, 'Don't worry, ladies, I've seen it all before.' None of the women alleged explicit remarks or physical contact, but Trump later acknowledged in recordings from the Howard Stern Show that he would go backstage to inspect, saying, 'I sort of get away with things like that.'
2000s: Public Comments on Ivanka's Appearance
During the 2000s, Trump's remarks about Ivanka became more frequent and public. In a 2003 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, he stated, 'You know who's one of the great beauties of the world, according to everybody? And I helped create her. Ivanka. My daughter, Ivanka. She's 6 feet tall, she's got the best body.' In a 2004 conversation, when host Howard Stern asked if he could refer to Ivanka as 'a piece of ass,' Trump replied, 'Yeah.' By 2006, Stern commented on Ivanka looking 'more voluptuous than ever,' questioning if she had undergone breast augmentation, to which Trump denied it, adding, 'She's actually always been very voluptuous. She's tall, she's almost 6 feet tall and she's been, she's an amazing beauty.' On The View, when asked how he would react if Ivanka posed for Playboy, Trump said his reaction would depend on the content, but noted, 'Although she does have a very nice figure. I've said that if Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps, I would be dating her.' A spokesperson later claimed this was a joke about his tendency to date younger women.
2010s: Escalating Allegations and Political Fallout
In the 2010s, controversies continued to mount. During an appearance on the Wendy Williams Show, when Ivanka was asked what she had in common with her father, she replied 'either real estate or golf,' but Trump interjected, 'Well, I was going to say sex, but I can't relate that to her.' In 2015, ahead of his presidential campaign, Rolling Stone journalist Paul Solotaroff reported that after complimenting Ivanka, Trump said, 'Yeah, she's really something, and what a beauty, that one. If I weren't happily married and, ya know, her father..' In 2016, claims emerged that the Dr Oz Show cut a segment where Trump, after Ivanka joined him on stage, reportedly said he kisses her whenever he can, following a host's comment about it being nice to see a dad kiss his daughter. The gravest allegations came from Miles Taylor's book, Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump, which claimed Trump's aides reported him discussing Ivanka's 'breasts, her backside, and what it might be like to have sex with her,' with former White House chief of staff John Kelly describing Trump as 'a very, very evil man.' Trump has consistently denied all such allegations.
