Ivanka faces backlash for silence amid immigration policy protests
Ivanka Trump’s sunny Instagram surfing snaps sparked a firestorm while Los Angeles burned with riots over her father’s immigration crackdown, Daily Mail reported. Her silence on the issue, juxtaposed with her A-list pals’ vocal outrage, paints a picture of a woman caught between loyalty and luxury.
Critics pounced, dubbing her “Ivanka Antoinette,” but is the backlash fair? While Los Angeles endured six days of riots protesting President Trump’s immigration policies, Ivanka posted carefree surfing photos. The unrest, fueled by Trump’s directive for ICE to ramp up detentions nationwide, saw 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines deployed to quell the chaos. Ivanka’s posts, dripping with privilege, couldn’t have timed worse.
Kim Kardashian, Ivanka’s friend of a decade, didn’t hold back, blasting Trump’s policies as “inhumane.” “When we witness innocent, hardworking people being ripped from their families, we have to speak up,” Kardashian declared. Her words cut deep, especially given Ivanka’s role in connecting Kim with Trump during his first term.
Hollywood Friends Turn Critics
Ivanka’s Instagram became a lightning rod, flooded with comments like “How ‘let them eat cake’ is this post?” Another anonymous jab, “Ivanka should be mortified, humiliated, and embarrassed,” captured the public’s fury. Surfing while cities smolder? Not a good look.
Kardashian wasn’t alone; Ivanka’s Miami socialite circle, including Karlie Kloss and Gisele Bündchen, has a history of opposing Trump’s policies. Kloss, who voted Democrat in 2016 and 2020, once called Trump’s immigration stance “heartless.” Bündchen, in 2017, celebrated immigrant diversity with “weareallimmigrants,” a subtle dig at Trump’s rhetoric.
The Department of Homeland Security fired back at Kardashian’s criticism with a pointed X post. “Which one of these convicted child molesters, murderers, drug traffickers and rapists would you like to stay in the country?” it asked, listing four ICE arrestees. The clapback aimed to reframe the narrative, but it only fueled the online frenzy.
Ivanka’s Political Past Resurfaces
Ivanka, once a senior advisor in Trump’s 2016-2020 administration, has distanced herself from politics. In 2022, she vowed to focus on family, saying, “I am choosing to prioritize my children.” Yet, her 2018 stance against family separations—“That was a low point for me”—now feels hollow amid her current silence.
Back in 2018, Ivanka claimed immigration wasn’t her responsibility, a convenient sidestep. “I felt very strongly about that and I am very vehemently against family separation,” she said then. Fast-forward, and her reticence suggests she’s more comfortable on a surfboard than a soapbox.
Her friendships with Kloss and Bündchen, once strained by politics, have reportedly warmed since she left Washington. An anonymous source noted, “Ivanka’s views have changed, and after she revealed she hates politics.” But cozying up to anti-Trump celebs while dodging the ICE debate? That’s a tightrope act.
Navigating a Public Relations Minefield
Ivanka’s pivot to a private life hasn’t shielded her from scrutiny. “I hate politics. It’s very dark, negative,” she told The Skinny Confidential podcast. Yet, her father’s policies keep dragging her back into the spotlight, whether she likes it or not.
The Los Angeles riots, sparked by Trump’s mass deportation push, underscored the human cost of policy. Kardashian’s ode to immigrants—“They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, coworkers, and family”—resonated with many. Ivanka’s failure to echo that sentiment left her looking detached, even callous.
Actions, or inaction, have consequences, and Ivanka’s silence speaks volumes. While she insists, “I love my father very much,” her refusal to weigh in risks alienating her high-profile friends. Loyalty to family is noble, but ignoring the firestorm? That’s a gamble.
A Delicate Balance Falters
Ivanka’s no stranger to navigating her father’s controversies, but this time, she’s misstepped. Kloss’s 2018 plea—“We have to be the voices for these kids”—and Bündchen’s “NO!” Trump's support in 2016 highlighted the chasm between Ivanka and her circle. Her silence feels less like neutrality and more like avoidance.
The “Ivanka Antoinette” moniker, cruel but catchy, reflects a broader frustration with elites who seem tone-deaf. Surfing photos amid riots? It’s not just optics; it’s a disconnect from the struggles of those affected by ICE’s aggressive sweeps.
Still, piling on Ivanka might be too easy. She’s not in her father’s administration, and her 2022 exit from politics was clear: family first. But when your last name is Trump, staying above the fray is a fantasy and Ivanka’s learning that the hard way.





