Former President Donald Trump has consistently made headlines, whether due to his ongoing legal battles or his high-profile family relationships, particularly with his daughter, Ivanka Trump. Since his 2015 campaign, the father-daughter duo has been regularly seen together, and despite Ivanka stepping away from the Trump Organization in 2017, their familial bond has remained strong.
However, the nature of their relationship has long been a subject of public speculation, especially when certain photos capture attention online. A political forum on Reddit recently unearthed a picture from 1996 that has reignited this discussion.
The image, titled “15-year-old Ivanka Trump sitting on her father’s lap during a concert in 1996,” portrays a young Ivanka in a red-and-white striped sleeveless top and matching shorts. Donald Trump, sitting with her, is seen wearing a pink striped shirt, blue blazer, and white trousers.
For many online users, the image seemed inappropriate. One Reddit user bluntly commented, “He gives off such huge Pedo [pedophile] vibes,” while another referenced Trump’s infamous remark about his daughter, “If she weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.”
This quote, along with other controversial comments, continues to haunt the former president and fuels ongoing debates about their relationship. Others chimed in, questioning the context of the photo and its implications. “Couldn’t he buy another seat?” one commenter asked, while another remarked, “This is not normal.”
The thread soon filled with various criticisms of Trump’s past behavior, with one user noting, “Or like 10 other sus things he has done and said. And these are things we know of.” This photo, originally released by Getty in 2016, stirred controversy during Trump’s first presidential run.
At the time, rumors circulated that the image showed Ivanka giving her father a lap dance—claims that were quickly debunked. A 2016 article by the fact-checking site Snopes clarified that while the photo raised eyebrows, there was no evidence to suggest inappropriate behavior between Trump and his daughter.
Despite these controversies, Trump has consistently denied any allegations of inappropriate affection toward Ivanka, asserting their bond is that of a typical father and daughter. Yet, the resurfacing of this image continues to spark debate, with many still questioning the boundaries of their relationship.