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Trump, Clinton use daughters to repair image in US Presidential race

These ladies are playing a big part in the US Presidential campaign. Photo: Getty

These ladies are playing a big part in the US Presidential campaign. Photo: Getty

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are cleverly using their daughters in an attempt to change public perceptions of them in the bitter race for the United States’ Presidency, according to US politics boffins.

Immediately before both candidates accepted their party nominations at their respective party conventions on Friday (AEST), daughters’ Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton introduced their parents to rapturous applause.

Both Ivanka and Chelsea – successful businesswomen and mothers – received a massive response on social media. The women spoke about the love they had for their parents, but more importantly revealed details about how Donald and Hillary acted behind the scenes.

Ivanka spoke about how her father would always be welcoming to her friends, while Chelsea talked about how warm Hillary was towards her two infant grandchildren, Chelsea’s kids.

Deakin University US politics expert Dr Geoff Robinson told The New Daily Ivanka and Chelsea were intentionally used in this way to try and remedy perceived flaws in their parent’s image.

“For Hillary Clinton people have said it is important to humanise her and maybe there is a gendered thing here but maybe trying to soften her image which is a combative, take-no-prisoners, professional politician,” Dr Robinson said.

trump clinton daughters
“Trump has a machismo image and overall personality. [Ivanka is] trying to present himself in a softer, more amenable style.”

Dr Robinson said he hadn’t seen a US Presidential campaign where family, in particular daughters, had been so prevalent.

“It is probably a response to a wider general anti-politics mood whereby people want to humanise politicians by them presenting themselves as being something more than just a politician,” he said.

Former model vs former presenter

Before becoming a businesswoman in her father’s company Ivanka was a model. She featured in Forbes and Harpers Bazaar and modelled for Tommy Hilfiger.

Chelsea now holds a prominent position on the board of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation. She was previously working at an investment company and even was a reporter on NBC.

Despite their two very different backgrounds and that their families are pitted in a bitter and personal war for the White House, Ivanka and Chelsea are friends.

trump clinton daughters

The pair were introduced to each other via their husbands a few years ago.

Chelsea told Extra earlier this week that the two were “absolutely” still friends, despite the vicious campaign so far.

“It has nothing to do with politics,” Chelsea said. “We were friends before this election, we’ll be friends after this election.”

Publicly, the pair have appeared quite friendly and move in similar circles.

Both Ivanka and Chelsea received rave reviews for their speeches at the Republican and Democrat national conventions respectively.

California Republican delegate Shawn Steel said the speech proved Ivanka was “Trump’s greatest asset”.

While for Chelsea, CNBC judged that the daughter had “revealed a side of her mother Hillary that had never been seen before”.

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