Nepotism continues in the Trump administration, as the President-elect reportedly let his daughter Ivanka sit in on a call with neoliberal Argentinian President Mauricio Macri.
Macri, who was elected last year in a runoff against leftist populist candidate Daniel Scioli, told the Japanese outlet Asahi Shimbun on Monday that he considered Trump to be “a bold and aggressive person,” adding, “he won the election while making many people his enemy. That shows that his capabilities and insights are excellent.”
He called Trump to congratulate him on his win, although Macri had supported Democratic rival Hillary Clinton during the election. But Ivanka, who has been tapped to spearhead the family’s corporate empire while Trump is in office, apparently took part in the call, despite critics warning that allowing his family and business partners to be involved in White House business raises ethical questions and could be a conflict of interest.
“In the call, I also talked with his daughter,” Macri told the Asahi Shimbun. “I have known her since her infant days.”
Indeed, Macri and Trump have been acquainted since the 1980s, when the American business mogul bought some defunct real estate from the Argentinian leader’s father. Macri and Trump also “concluded a business contract” many years ago, Macri said in the interview, describing their relationship as being “close” at one time.
The interview reads:
The Intercept also notes:
Late last week, Ivanka sat in on a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, prompting the first round of criticism.
Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, who is also a close business partner of Trump’s, are part of the president’s transition team.
“Their involvement raises a host of ethical questions,” Emily Jane Fox wrote at Vanity Fair, noting that “it appears to violate the 1967 nepotism law put in place after John Kennedy installed his kid brother Bobby as attorney general.”
Ivanka Trump’s involvement in her father’s business affairs, Marine Hyde wrote at the Guardian, “makes it a bit odd that she’s sitting in on presidential state business.”