Ivanka Trump marks US election with bizarre ‘life lessons’ birthday post

Ivanka Trump has marked the US election with an unexpected social media post, as she appears to distance herself from her father’s politics.

Ivanka Trump has marked the US election with a somewhat bizarre post on social media – especially given her father could be crowned the nation’s 47th president.

Aside from sharing a heartfelt message to Donald Trump after the assassination attempt on his life in July, the former First Daughter has stayed out of the political spotlight during his 2024 run for president.

Case in point: on election eve, Ms Trump took the opportunity to share a lengthy Instagram post overnight, commemorating her 43rd birthday a week ago and “reflecting on life’s lessons” and “some truths I’ve learned along the way”.

Among them, she advised her followers to “choose words that heal, not harm”, “approach life with love and positivity”, and, perhaps tellingly, “identify your core values and live by them; this may mean setting firm boundaries”.

The carousel of images accompanying Ms Trump’s list of 15 lessons featured only pictures of herself, her husband Jared Kushner, and their three children.

Donald Trump could be the victor of today’s presidential election. Picture: Ryan M Kelly/AFP

Ivanka Trump marked election eve with a lengthy list of 'life lessons' in commemoration of her 43rd birthday. Picture: Instagram

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Both Ms Trump and Mr Kushner played an instrumental role throughout Mr Trump’s time in the Oval Office, serving as senior advisers and two of his greatest confidantes – so much so there was speculation Ms Trump would mount a political career of her own.

After his defeat to President Joe Biden in 2020, however, the couple began to distance themselves from the 78-year-old and his tumultuous White House reign, and were reportedly “looking forward to having a clean break”.

Ms Trump briefly appeared on the final night of the Republican National Convention but did not speak. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

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Ms Trump in particular has worked toward establishing herself as more “apolitical”. Nearly two years ago, when Mr Trump announced his third White House bid, she shared that she would be stepping back from politics to focus on her children and family life.

“I do not plan to be involved in politics. While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena,” she said at the time.

Though she attended the final night of the Republican National Convention in July, Ms Trump did not speak (at the previous two, she had introduced her father before his address).

She also did not attend his historic criminal trial and conviction in Manhattan, though Vanity Fair reported “Javanka” will spend election night at Mar-a-Lago.

Asked in October what the chance was of her joining the final stretch of Mr Trump’s campaign, Mr Kushner told The New York Times on his wife’s behalf: “Zero.”

Ms Trump “made the decision when she left Washington that she was closing that chapter of her life”, he continued. “And she’s been remarkably consistent.”

The outcome of the election, Mr Kushner said, would not result in “a major shift in terms of what we prioritise”.

“Obviously the world is different for us over the next four years if her father is president,” he said.

“We’re rooting for him – obviously, we’re proud of him. But, you know, either way, our life will just continue to move forward.”

Ms Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, were senior advisers to Mr Trump during his presidency. Picture: Giorgio Viera/AFP

One of the few public comments Ms Trump has made on politics since 2020 came during a three-hour interview on MIT scientist Lex Fridman’s podcast this July.

Asked by Fridman what the “philosophy” behind her decision not to partake in Mr Trump’s potential next presidency was, Ms Trump said it was “rooted in me being a parent”.

“Politics is a rough, rough business and I think it’s one that you also can’t dabble in,” she said.

“I think you have to either be all in or all out. And I know today, the cost (my children) would pay for me being all in, emotionally in terms of my absence at such a formative point in their life.

“And I’m not willing to make them bear that cost. I served for four years and feel so privileged to have done it, but as their mum, I think it’s really important that I do what’s right for them. And I think there are a lot of ways you can serve.”

Politics is also, Ms Trump said, “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,” she continued.

“And it’s a really rough business. So for me and my family, it feels right to not participate.”