Now, those closest to the First Lady and First Daughter of the United States have revealed the reality behind their relationship behind closed doors. Melania and Ivanka have many traits in common on the surface, with their money, poise, style and family devotion to name a few. But their relationship is rumoured to get heated sometimes, with one writer sensationally claiming Melania is the only one to have “stood up to Ivanka and won”.
Despite the rumoured tensions between them, close aides of the First Daughter and first Lady say they have always had a close bond.
After sources observed a certain “frostiness” between them the First Lady’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, told Vanity Fair in early 2017: “Ivanka and Mrs Trump have always shared a close relationship, and that continues today.”
The New York Times reported in November friends of Ivanka “bristled” when people got hers and the First Lady’s White House roles confused.
The paper reported the First Daughter would clarify she was there to work on policy and help her father deal with the important issues of the day.
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Her assertion led to speculation she was assigning FLOUTS-type duties to Melania.
Of their differing roles, Melania’s trusted aide Ms Grisham told the New York Times: “The office of the First Lady is focused on her initiatives and works independently.
“But we often collaborate on a variety of projects with the West Wing and have a very positive working relationship.”
The two women appear to run separate operations other than the supposed collaboration mentioned by Melania’s aide, Ms Grisham.
A White House official said: “The First Lady and Ivanka have a great relationship.
“As strong independent women, each has their own unique portfolio but they always support each another personally and professionally.”
Donald Trump’s divorce from Ivanka’s mother has been described as the “darkest, most difficult period in her young life”, raising questions over how receptive the First Daughter was to Melania as a new force in her life.
In what was not exactly a ringing endorsement Ivanka wrote in the dedication to her 2009 book The Trump Card: “To Melania: Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.”
However Ivanka told PEOPLE in 2016: “Melania is very smart, she’s very warm, she’s got an incredible heart.
“She’s always been very charitable and there are many organisations that she’s worked with.
“Not just for a season but over the course of many years and decades in some cases.
“So I’ll leave it to her to put forth what her platform will be but I know that she’ll be a very powerful and impactful first woman.
“I know that anything she sets her mind to she does with her full heart so I have no doubt that when she decides which platform she’s going to prioritise, she’ll be incredibly effective in that regard.”