Trump's First Ladies: What Will Their Roles Be?

As America prepares for the inauguration of its 45th president, Donald Trump, tomorrow, much speculation still surrounds what role two of the most important women in his life will have. His daughter, Ivanka, who has already moved to Washington following the election, is set to become perhaps the most involved first daughter of all time, while Trump’s wife Melania will not be living in the White House when his term begins.

Melania plans to stay at the family’s New York apartment within Trump Tower in order that their son, Barron, will not be uprooted or removed from school during the term – and although many assume that she will then head to Washington, probably in the summer, she could remained based in New York if she wished. Although Michelle Obama has carved a role as a philanthropic and campaigning first lady, there is no minimum involvement required for the role other than to act as a co-host for events within the White House, which Melania could do without living there.

Meet Melania Trump

Even with the inauguration less than 24 hours away, Ivanka Trump’s role has still not been confirmed, leading many to surmise that no official role will be given to the first daughter. A source told Us Weekly that it is likely that she will be “Donald’s closest adviser. He looks to Ivanka for advice and consultation on almost everything.” The source added that Ivanka’s personality is a useful foil for Trump’s famously confrontational temperament. “She balances him out. 

She learned to keep her mouth shut and just let him get it off his chest. She then rationally explains other points of view.”

Who Is Ivanka Trump?

While Ivanka’s husband, Jared Kushner, has been given an official role as an adviser in Trump’s team, many Capitol Hill blogs are speculating that the country’s anti-nepotism laws would make it difficult for Trump to hire Ivanka officially.


The 1967 Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute decrees that an executive agency official is not permitted to appoint relatives to “a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control”, Constitution Daily states – although the law does not directly reference the White House.


Questions arose over President Clinton’s appointment of wife Hillary to lead a health-care task force, but the administration argued at the time that the first lady was not a “government employee”.

If Ivanka did assume first lady duties, at least for the first few months of Trump’s presidency, she would not be the first to take on the role without being the president’s wife – although generally another family member is only selected if the president is a bachelor or a widower.


Thomas Jefferson’s daughter Martha was his first lady; Martin Van Buren enlisted his daughter-in-law; and James Buchanan was accompanied by his niece – reportedly the first person to use the moniker “first lady”.

While many will focus on only their wardrobes, it now appears that Trump’s two first lady candidates could rewrite the role from within.


Images: Getty
Content: Vogue Uk