In a revealing moment during the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, US Capitol insurrection, Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former President Donald Trump and one of his closest advisers, made a striking departure from her father’s narrative. During her video deposition, which was broadcast for the first time at the House panel’s initial hearing, Ivanka Trump expressed her disbelief in her father’s persistent claims that the 2020 election was stolen due to voter fraud.
Ivanka’s change of heart seemed to pivot around her discussions with then-Attorney General Bill Barr, who served under her father until his resignation in December 2020. Barr had been unequivocal in his communications with the President, consistently affirming the integrity of the election results. Reflecting on Barr’s influence, Ivanka stated, “I respect Attorney General Barr. So I accepted what he was saying.”
As per The Guardian, This revelation came as part of Barr’s broader denunciation of the claims of widespread voter fraud. He had testified before the same panel, emphasizing that the Justice Department, under his watch, had found no evidence of fraud at a scale that would have altered the outcome of the presidential election. Barr’s testimony was firm and dismissive of the falsehoods being spread about the election’s legitimacy.
“I repeatedly told the president in no uncertain terms that I did not see evidence of fraud that would have affected the outcome of the election. And frankly, a year and a half later, I still haven’t,” he declared. He also admitted to telling Trump directly that the theories being floated about the election were baseless and misleading.
Before her pivot, Ivanka had been a vocal supporter of her father’s right to challenge the election results. Captured in a video by filmmaker Alex Holder, which was later subpoenaed by the House committee, Ivanka had echoed her father’s rhetoric, emphasizing the need to ensure every vote was counted and voicing concerns about potential disenfranchisement.
“I think that, as the president has said, every single vote needs to be counted and needs to be heard, and he campaigned for the voiceless. And I think a lot of Americans feel very, very disenfranchised right now, and really, question the sanctity of our elections, and that’s not right. It’s not acceptable,” she had stated.
As per The Hill, However, her testimony to the House committee marked a clear contradiction to these earlier views, reflecting a significant shift in her public stance. Following the airing of her testimony, former President Trump responded by suggesting that Ivanka’s statements were more about showing respect for Barr’s authority than her own convictions.
He implied that she was ‘checked out’ after the election, indicating that her disavowal of the election fraud narrative was not based on a change of belief but rather a strategic alignment with Barr’s respected status. This episode highlights the inner tensions and complex dynamics within the Trump family and administration during and after the tumultuous post-election period, shedding light on the conflicting loyalties and the pressures faced by those in Trump’s inner circle.
