Ivanka Trump defends working 'to better the lives of every American' after being shamed for Kim Kardashian photo
Try all you like, but Ivanka Trump won’t be shamed for meeting with Kim Kardashian.
The first daughter joined Kardashian on Wednesday for a White House discussion on criminal justice reform. Trump’s husband, fellow White House adviser Jared Kushner, and CNN host Van Jones also sat in on the meeting.
Great working session today at the White House on ways to improve the clemency process with policy leaders and criminal justice reform advocates. pic.twitter.com/2Ydoe16Dfo
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) September 6, 2018
It’s not Kardashian’s first trip to the White House seeking clemency for incarcerated individuals. Earlier this year she met with President Trump in the Oval Office, which resulted in the release of Alice Marie Johnson, a great-grandmother who served 21 years in prison for her involvement in a drug ring. The first daughter and Kushner were reportedly instrumental in setting up the Johnson meeting.
Kardashian has now set her sights on getting the sentence of 30-year-old inmate Chris Young, who is serving life without parole following a 2010 drug arrest, commuted.
She later shared photos from the meeting in a tweet calling for “REAL systemic change.”
It started with Ms. Alice, but looking at her and seeing the faces and learning the stories of the men and women I’ve met inside prisons I knew I couldn’t stop at just one. It’s time for REAL systemic change pic.twitter.com/kdKr8s6lJW
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) September 5, 2018
Kardashian’s involvement has sparked mixed reactions, with many praising her for using her platform to advocate on the behalf of others. Critics, however, have ridiculed her influence on the White House, writing it off as a symptom of a celebrity-obsessed culture.
But Ivanka Trump doesn’t see it that way. When ABC reporter Jory Rand mocked her photo op with Kardashian, the White House adviser fired back with a tweet defending her work.
Yes…we continue to work to better the lives of every American, each and every day, regardless of what others in the echo chamber deem to be the more “important” narrative… https://t.co/IlFr12yr4n
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) September 6, 2018
Her reference to working to “better the lives of every American,” however, prompted even more backlash from those questioning her father’s policies.
You claim to care about children and have done nothing to help the kids brutally ripped from their parents arms. You claim to care about women and support the end of reproductive rights via your father’s SCOTUS pick. You are a shameful, complicit liar & the daughter of a madman
— #MYBODYMYCHOICE (@EcoSexuality) September 6, 2018
Nothing you will ever do with your life will make up for the suffering and pain you have caused by supporting the campaign and Presidency of your utterly unfit father.
— Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 6, 2018
Really? Fluff stuff. work for affordable health care, help Puerto Rico, support public schools. Forget the photo opps
— Joano (@mimilu) September 6, 2018
Tell that to my face…. a mom with a child with a heart defect… A #PreExistingCondition at risk of losing health insurance because of TRUMP and the @GOP.
— McBlondeLand (@McBlondeLand) September 6, 2018
It remains unclear if Kardashian’s visit will result in a prison release for Young.
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