Ivanka Trump Breaks Silence on Donald Trump Shooting as Her Words Spark Comparisons to Erika Kirk’s Response

President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in July 2024. Since then, aides say he has been different, while his daughter, Ivanka Trump, has long distanced herself from her father’s administration. She reiterated her stance before Trump’s 2025 inauguration and was more vocal about her disinterest in politics. Now, nearly two years later, the President’s daughter has opened up about the experience and her emotions during that time.

While appearing in an April 2026 episode of "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, Ivanka revealed that she saw the violence unfold on television in “almost real time”. She remembered watching the shooting live at her father’s New Jersey golf club. At the time, two of her kids were also there with her, and she had to balance multiple priorities. She said, “It was before he had stood back up that I had seen what was transpiring, and two of my children were there [with me]. My first reaction was to turn them away. It was incredibly difficult.”

Ivanka and Jared Kushner share three children: daughter Arabella (15) and sons Joseph (12) and Theodore (10).

Despite the initial shock, Ivanka didn’t panic about the situation as she “ knew it wasn’t his time.” Explaining her emotions, she said, “I was horrified, and I was scared and I was protective of my children, but I also I didn’t believe like the worst possible outcome had transpired. And thank God it hadn’t.”

Ivanka and Jared waited up for Trump to return home to Bedminster from the hospital late that night. She admitted feeling “incredibly lucky” that her father had come through the day unharmed, adding that the incident reinforced her belief in not taking things for granted.

According to The List, in addition, she was asked about the lasting impact of the incident, and her response bore striking similarities to Turning Point USA (TPUSA) Chief Executive Officer Erika Kirk's choice to forgive her husband, Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer, at his funeral. Being realistic about the situation, Ivanka noted that the situation wasn’t as simple and came with its own complexities.

“I think that forgiveness is a difficult thing. I could look at what happened and be rightfully traumatized... but you have to move through it,” she acknowledged.

While Erika and Ivanka are willing to forgive, the major difference in their case lies in the fact that Trump survived, but Charlie couldn’t. Ivanka saw the footage multiple times, but Erika opted not to watch the footage of her husband’s killing. Their motivation also stems from different positions, as the widow of Kirk believes that it is her spiritual beliefs, while Ivanka approaches forgiveness from a place of gratitude.

Despite their differences, both women share a similar outlook: how to respond in times of violence. At the DealBook Summit, Erika said that forgiving others also helped her find some personal space. “It frees you from a poison, and it frees you to be able to think clearly and have a moment where your heart is free,” she remarked. Similarly, Ivanka stated, “In life, you have a choice only in how you respond, and I choose to see the positive outcome.”