During a Monday morning appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Ivanka Trump said she was caught off guard by the “viciousness” and “ferocity” directed at her father, President Donald Trump.
In a discussion that touched on the president’s infrastructure and economic initiatives, co-host Brian Kilmeade asked her if it was hard to focus on issues important to her when there were “distractions” ― like the investigations of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia and Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election.
The first daughter said she was surprised by the harsh criticism Trump is facing.
“It is hard. And there is a level of viciousness that I was not expecting. I was not expecting the intensity of this experience,” she said.
“But this isn’t supposed to be easy,” she continued. “My father and this administration intends to be transformative. And we want to do big, bold things. And we’re looking to change the status quo. So, I didn’t expect it to be easy. I think some of the distractions and some of the ferocity was — I was a little blindsided by on a personal level.”
Trump also said she was “trying to keep my head down, not listen to the noise and just work really hard to make a positive impact in the lives of many people.”
"There is a level of viciousness that I was not expecting...but this isn't supposed to be easy." -@IvankaTrump pic.twitter.com/viiMQ2ij1d
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) June 12, 2017
Trump’s “viciousness” comment left many Twitter users incredulous, given her father’s actions on the campaign trail and as president.
Viciousness is telling ppl to beat up protesters at your rallies. Demanding accountability for breaking the law is not vicious. It's normal. https://t.co/eSEsZYL6Aq
— Martha Plimpton (@MarthaPlimpton) June 12, 2017
"There is a level of viciousness that I was not expecting" - Ivanka Trump
— Neil Jacobs (@NeilJacobs) June 12, 2017
Really? Good thing some of us don't have amnesia. pic.twitter.com/NmURPEM8B7
Your father attacked the Khan family, women, reporters...you brought it with you to my town. You should feel free to leave at any time https://t.co/jVwg7Y8mTu
— Moira Whelan (@moira) June 12, 2017
The Trumps complaining about the level of viciousness in DC is like the Kardashians complaining about the number of attention seekers in LA.
— Marie Connor (@thistallawkgirl) June 12, 2017
Ivanka Trump: I Wasn't Expecting This 'Level Of Viciousness' pic.twitter.com/ujidBbNTTd
— Resistance Justice (@justiceputnam) June 12, 2017
If Ivanka Trump wants to see an unimaginable level of viciousness, She should read the American Health Care Act.
— Jessie Lahr (@JessieLahrr) June 12, 2017
There's a level of viciousness in suggesting that second amendment people assassinate your political opponent in a public speech. https://t.co/wIWtgibsb5
— OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) June 12, 2017
Hey @IvankaTrump, your father:
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) June 12, 2017
1. Championed birtherism
2. Called Ted Cruz's wife ugly
3. Name-called opponents.
You're disingenuous Af. https://t.co/VLVj0AMZH8
Ivanka Trump surprised by 'level of viciousness' aimed at her father.
— Rhonda Barket (@RhondaBarket) June 12, 2017
The mayor of London was surprised by your father's too.
The first daughter spoke after her brother, Donald Trump Jr., appeared with Judge Jeanine Pirro on Saturday night during Pirro’s segment on “Fox & Friends.” The conversation was friendly, glossing over some of the more pressing issues facing the Trump administration, like the Russia probe.
Ivanka Trump did say on Monday that her father felt “very vindicated” after former FBI Director James Comey’s hearing last week before the Senate Intelligence Committee. However, Comey suggested during his testimony that Trump had privately requested that he drop an FBI investigation and later lied and defamed him.
“My father felt very vindicated in all the statements that he’s been making and feels incredibly optimistic,” she said. “[We’re] incredibly focused on the reason we all went to Washington and what we’re fighting for.”
.@IvankaTrump: With all the noise and intensity surrounding the Comey hearing, we're focused on why the American people elected Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/G0Ils9I31j
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) June 12, 2017
She also discussed the administration's first international trip and said she was particularly taken with their visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
“Every day in this experience has been surreal, but that was truly an unbelievable moment,” she said.
Trump, who converted to Judaism prior to marrying Trump senior aide Jared Kushner, incorrectly called Judaism one of the three largest world religions during the interview.
She also proceeded to wave off rumors about her husband -- who is reportedly being investigated as part of the Russia probe -- by saying that she and the rest of Team Trump are “really focused on why the American people elected Donald Trump president.”
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