Chelsea Clinton says Ivanka Trump is 'fair game' for criticism because of her support for her father

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox

Get our free Inside Washington email

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Former former daughter Chelsea Clinton has delivered a pointed attack on Ivanka Trump, saying she is fair game for criticism because of her support for her father’s policies.

During the 2016 election campaign, it was frequently reported the daughters of the two candidates had remained friends, despite the frequently bitter and toxic nature of the contest involving their parents.

Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ms Clinton, 38, said she was “absolutely” still friends with Ms Trump, though she said she believed it was appropriate to criticise for her being part of her father’s administration. She also admitted the two had not spoken for “some time”.

Asked by Colbert if she felt any sympathy for Ms Trump over the criticism she frequently received, she replied: “I think anyone who works for the President certainly should expect to get scrutinised, not only for decisions that she or he is making, but whatever decisions the White House is making on any given day.”

She added: “It’s clear that she has supported policies and decisions that I don’t agree with. I’ve been very vocal about my opposition to President Trump.”

On the morning of election day, November 8 2016, Ms Clinton said that regardless of the result, she did not believe it would jeopardise the relationship she had with Ms Trump.

After Mr Trump won the White House and took his eldest daughter and her husband, Jared Kushner, to work with him in the West Wing, she continued to offer encouragement.

“I hope her kids are doing well. I hope they’re enjoying their new home in Washington,” she told CBS soon afterwards. Previously, during the transition period, she had said: “She’s been a friend of mine long before the campaign, through the campaign, [and] will be a friend of mine after.”

Colbert asked Ms Clinton if she could telephone Ms Trump and offer foreign policy suggestions. “Could you call her up and say, ‘Hey, maybe no war with North Korea’.Or anything like that?”

It was clearly a joke, but Ms Clinton gave a serious response. She said: “I certainly am just really sad that we’re at a point in time where that even has to be said.”