‘First daughter’ heads for Berlin on women’s rights mission

(Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP).

Her subject: Ivanka Trump.

Two weeks later, Trump appointed his daughter as an unpaid assistant to the president, easing German concern that dealing with an unofficial family adviser might run afoul of diplomatic protocol.

He said he had seen a relaxation in the dispute with the US over trade and believed a “non-confrontational solution” would be reached when financial leaders of the world’s 20 top economies meet in Hamburg in July under Germany’s presidency.

Donald Trump’s proposed budget significantly slashes federal spending at several departments, but increases spending in defense, homeland security and veterans affairs.

The White House said that Ms Trump would travel “at the direct invitation” of the German chancellor to take part in the W20 Summit, a gathering linked to the economic meetings of the G20 nations that is meant to promote “women’s economic empowerment”. They were joined by Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and the Netherlands’ Queen Maxima, among others. The moderator, after the audience reaction, then suggested that many people are suspicious of President Trump’s stated support for women’s empowerment.

During last year’s presidential election, Trump found himself at the centre of a furious controversy when a 2005 video emerged in which he boasted about grabbing women’s genitals. Trump was at “W20”, a women-centric forum at the G20 conference, at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Watch Trump’s panel in the video above, starting at 7 a.m. ET Tuesday.

The thinking on leave policies has evolved from maternity leave to a more inclusive family leave, the official said, adding that they are also looking at other funding options beyond the savings in unemployment insurance that were originally targeted. Trump will be addressing the Women’s Summit in Germany on April 25. She will also see the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and pay respects to those killed during the Holocaust. She converted to Judaism herself ahead of her 2009 marriage to Jared Kushner.

Even taken separately from her current, deeply questionable role in the West Wing, it’s worth noting that Ivanka Trump has never exactly had her finger on the pulse of actual entrepreneurship or “empowerment”; the only thing Ivanka Trump has ever really seemed to have her finger on is polished, steely evasion.

TRUMP: And I guess somebody shouted out, “Shake her hand, shake her hand”, you know.

“As a daughter, I can speak on a personal level, knowing that he encouraged me and enabled me to thrive”.