First daughter Ivanka Trump became emotional while discussing the loss of her mother and other personal challenges during a rare video podcast appearance.
Speaking on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast, Ivanka Trump, 44, reflected on the influence of her late mother, Ivana Trump, describing her as “extraordinary” and crediting her with shaping her values and outlook on life.
“My mother taught me a lot about bringing intention to what you do,” she said.
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Ivanka Trump grew visibly emotional at several points during the interview, pausing to compose herself as she reflected on her mother’s sudden death after a fall in 2022 at age 73.
“Losing a parent — it hits differently,” she said, noting the impact of the loss on her and her family.
She added that her family continues to keep her mother’s memory alive through stories and shared experiences.
Ivana Trump, born in 1949, was the first wife of President Donald Trump. The couple had three children together and divorced in the early 1990s.
The former White House advisor also spoke about her grandmother, who helped raise her and now lives with her family in Florida.
Ivanka Trump described her grandmother as “unbelievably nurturing” and said having her at her home is “a blessing.”
At one point, she became tearful as she discussed her grandmother’s declining health, pausing during the interview and asking for a tissue.
“I have a lot of love for this woman,” she said.
Ivanka Trump also opened up about her husband Jared Kushner’s battle with thyroid cancer, revealing she sought therapy during a particularly difficult period after leaving Washington, D.C. Kushner learned he had cancer in October 2019 but kept it private at the time, he wrote in his 2022 memoir, “Breaking History: A White House Memoir.”
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She said her family was navigating multiple challenges at once, including Kushner’s diagnosis and the loss of her mother, while also adjusting to life outside of government.
Ivanka Trump has chosen not to return to Washington during her father’s second term, prioritizing her children and family life.
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The interview also touched on a traumatic moment involving her father.
She recalled watching in real time as President Trump was shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.
She said she was at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, at the time. She was by the pool with two of her children when the frightening incident was broadcast in real time on TV.
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“I was horrified, and I was scared. And I was protective of my children,” she said.
Despite the shock over the shooting, Ivanka Trump said she felt certain her father would survive the attack.
“I just knew it wasn’t his time,” she said.
“I feel incredibly lucky that he was protected that day.”
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Trump also said she has forgiven shooter Thomas Crooks — who was later acknowledged by the FBI to have acted alone that day in Pennsylvania — and that forgiveness can be difficult but necessary.
“My father is alive — and that is an extraordinary blessing for me as his daughter,” she added.
Reflecting on the series of personal challenges she’s faced, Ivanka Trump said the experiences have reshaped her perspective on life.
“You can’t take things for granted in life, and I’ve learned that in numerous ways.”
