Jared Kushner: Why Ivanka Trump Is the Perfect Champion for Women’s Issues
For Variety’s latest issue, we asked Jared Kushner to write a tribute for his wife Ivanka Trump, one of 50 people to make our New Power of New York list. Here’s why Trump represents a new generation of movers and shakers that capture the best of Manhattan.
In the last week, Ivanka opened a $200-million hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, unveiled a legislative policy to benefit working families and managed to do the first day of school drop-offs and pick-ups for our children — all before Wednesday.
Whether preparing to deliver a speech to tens of millions of people at the Republican National Convention, or teaching our kids to swim, Ivanka defines the phrase “hands on.” A few years ago, at a large family function, Ivanka was carrying a plate of snacks in one hand and our daughter, Arabella, with the other, when she was approached by a guest holding a Sharpie. The woman took off her heels, handed Ivanka the marker and asked her to sign them — they were Ivanka Trump shoes. The timing was less than ideal, but Ivanka knows that the women who buy her clothes are often like her, busy moms trying to (sometimes literally) balance their work and family lives. Ivanka signed the shoes with a smile and then resumed being supermom to our very busy toddler.
Ivanka is an amazing wife and devoted mother of our three young children. She runs her own lifestyle company and IvankaTrump.com, is finishing her second book, “Women Who Work,” and is an executive in her family’s real estate business — all while being under the spotlight and scrutiny that comes with your father running for President.
If you know Ivanka, you have not been surprised to see her emerge during this crazy campaign season as a leader advocating for serious policies to support American women and their families — these are issues she has been championing for years. It took real courage for Ivanka to stand before 35 million Americans, including many who had not previously focused on these issues before, to help advance substantive policies that will dramatically improve U.S. law in favor of all women, parents and children. Grace under pressure is what she does best and I could not be more proud of her.
Jared Kushner is the publisher of the New York Observer. Read our full New Power of New York List here, as well as tributes for Chelsea Clinton (by Bill Clinton), Megyn Kelly (by Judge Judy) and Ben Smith (by David Remnick).
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