Ivanka Trump’s White House Office Demand Sparks Melania’s Fury—Insiders Spill the Drama

News
Alexis N. Crockett
February 27, 2025
9 minutes read

Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

The strained relationship between Ivanka Trump and her stepmother, Melania Trump, during Donald Trump’s presidency, has been a persistent topic of White House gossip. One particular incident reportedly left the First Lady furious.

Insiders have disclosed that the two clashed over various matters, ranging from office space allocation to policy influence. Their relationship has been far from smooth since Melania married Trump in 2005. At the time, Melania was 34, while Ivanka was only 23, just 11 years her junior. Tensions reportedly escalated as Trump transitioned from a business mogul and reality TV star to the political arena.

Their rift allegedly deepened following Trump’s 2016 inauguration. While Ivanka and her husband quickly moved into a $15,000-a-month rental in Washington, D.C., Melania remained in New York with her son Barron until he completed his school year in the summer of 2017, reports the Irish Star.

During Melania’s absence, Ivanka took on many traditional First Lady duties. She allegedly became so involved that she proposed renaming the ‘Office of the First Lady’ to the ‘Office of the First Family.’ This move, according to the Daily Mail, left Melania seething.

Despite Ivanka’s recent announcement that she intends to step back from politics if Trump secures a second term, tensions between the two women reportedly persist. “Ivanka will always be a thorn in her side,” a source close to both women revealed.

Melania, for her part, has reportedly crafted a nickname for her stepdaughter, frequently referring to her as “the princess.” In her newly released memoir, she addresses her approach to stepmotherhood, writing, “My role is not to replace [her stepchildren’s] mothers but to nurture a supportive and amicable connection… it is essential to remember that each person is deserving of respect and understanding, regardless of disagreements.”

This week, Melania made a return to the White House spotlight after a four-week hiatus. She accompanied her husband to the annual National Governors Association Evening Dinner on Saturday, marking her first major public appearance in weeks.

At the event, the couple presented a united front, arriving hand-in-hand in matching tuxedos. During his speech at the elegant, candlelit gathering, Donald Trump took the opportunity to publicly praise his wife.