Ashley Biden and Ivanka Trump have more in common than most people realize. Both grew up in the political spotlight, launched fashion lines, dabbled in philanthropy, and cheered their dads on during campaigns, with Ivanka even taking it a step further by serving as an advisor to Donald Trump. The most striking difference between them, however, is perhaps their relationships with their dads. Ashley is undeniably a daddy’s girl, while Ivanka is not quite the apple of Donald’s eye. Even the MAGA crowd seems to think so.
The contrast couldn’t have been clearer when Ashley took the stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention to introduce her dad, Joe Biden. She proudly described the president as the “OG girl dad” and let the world in on what it’s like having him as a father, detailing Joe’s constant presence in her life and the lessons he taught her. “Dad always told me that I was no better than anybody else, and nobody was better than me. He taught me that everyone deserves a fair shot and that we shouldn’t leave anyone behind. That’s what you learn from a fighter who has been underestimated his entire life,” she said. “When I look at Dad, I see grace, strength, and humility. I see one of the most consequential leaders ever in history.”
The crowd went wild, and so did the internet — but not just for the reasons you’d think. The discourse quickly shifted to Ivanka and Donald, with many agreeing that Ivanka probably couldn’t deliver a speech like Ashley. The reason? The connection between her and Donald just isn’t there.
Critics say Ivanka and Donald’s relationship is the exact opposite of Joe and Ashley’s
Political spectators wasted no time drawing comparisons between the Bidens and Trumps after Ashley Biden took the stage. With Ashley gushing about Joe like he’s her best friend (because, spoiler alert, he is), people couldn’t help but throw shade at Ivanka and Donald, whose relationship has always seemed more like a business deal than a father-daughter bond.
“Seems like Ashley Biden is fond of her dad, stating that he has a history of respecting and listening to women….Trump can’t say the same. Ashley Biden calls Joe her best friend, Ivanka calls Donald a business partner,” one person wrote, with another tweeting, “Ashley Biden described a father we all figured Joe to be right along. If Ivanka had said the same things about Trump at their convention, even an arena full of zombified MAGAs would have fallen out of their chairs laughing.” And the hits kept coming: “It’s impossible to imagine Ivanka Trump giving the speech that Ashley Biden gave tonight.”
To be fair, these observations aren’t unfounded, as Ivanka has pretty much ditched politics altogether, opting to focus on family life instead. She didn’t even show up for Donald’s latest round of legal drama. Meanwhile, Ashley and Joe? Total besties. As she said in her speech recalling her wedding, “He turned to me and said that he would always be my best friend. All these years later, Dad. You are still my best friend.”
