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July 2, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

Op-Ed

Ivanka & Jared: No Expertise? No Experience? No Problem. By Maria Grant

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Will this be the last editorial I write about the Trump dynasty?  I hope so. But I’m so outraged by current goings-on that I felt I had to put pen to paper. My biggest, “are you kidding me” moment deals with Jared and Ivanka.

Let’s just review a few facts. When Jared and Ivanka moved to DC, they rented a house in Kalorama for $18,000 a month. Kalorama is the ritziest part of DC and home to many big names–Obama, Clinton, Jeff Bezos, Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith, and Fox News host Chris Wallace, just to name a few. You’ve probably read the stories about how Ivanka and Jared refused to allow their Secret Service protection bathroom privileges in their home (which only had seven bathrooms). So, what to do? Eventually, after neighbors complained about the unsightly port-a-potty in their posh neighborhood, the Secret Service rented a studio nearby for $3,000 a month (now totaling more than $100,000) so that these protectors of “royalty” could access bathroom facilities.

Recently, Jared and Ivanka bought a $31.8 million two-acre piece of property in highly sought-after Indian Creek Island near Miami known as the “Billionaire’s Bunker”.  It doesn’t have a house on it yet so expect many more millions to be spent. The property has 200 feet of waterfront, and taxes are approximately $472,000 a year. The island, home to only about 30 residents, (and soon to be the new home of Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen) has its own police force and an armed marine patrol circles the island 24 hours a day. While they await the construction of their new mansion, Ivanka and Jared rented an apartment in an exclusive Miami high-rise for $40,000 a month. (One of Trump’s last negotiations before he left the White House was to ensure that all his grown children received six months of Secret Service protection at taxpayer’s expense. Trump will receive this protection for life.) 

Where all this money comes from, I have no idea. According to my research, neither Ivanka nor Jared are particularly astute businesspeople. Ivanka’s fashion business which sold mostly shoes, jewelry, handbags and clothing, wasn’t exactly a booming empire. The business started in 2007 and closed shortly after her father took office.  Like most Trump businesses, it’s difficult to discern exactly how profitable it was. 

Jared Kushner is famous for paying way too much for 666 Fifth Avenue in early 2007—a record-breaking price of $1.8 billion—at that time, the highest price ever paid for a New York office tower. He bought it just before the financial crisis hit and has struggled to cover its debt ever since. There are a host of stories about how a financial company tied to Qatar brokered a deal that bailed him out. Apparently, Jared had spent a lot of time negotiating blockades between Qatar and Saudi Arabia during this time—something about which the State Department was completely unaware.  

Why do I find all this conspicuous consumption so upsetting?  Because during the time that this “power couple” is spending ungodly sums of money that most people can’t even begin to fathom, Jared Kushner’s real estate company, which owns and manages thousands of apartment buildings, continued its aggressive practices of evictions and debt collection lawsuits in New Jersey and Maryland—even while their tenants were waiting for promised government relief. Both these states had declared states of emergency and both governors called for moratoriums on evictions and court filings. (Netflix recently released a mini documentary called Slumlord Millionaires which documents the abusive practices of Kushner’s real estate companies.)

Call me crazy, but it seems particularly insensitive at a time when so many people are suffering, that the Kushner business would so aggressively work to evict and sue people, particularly when he was “in the room where it happened” in terms of suspending evictions, student loan payments, and more. 

In addition to all this outrage, I now read that Ivanka is considering running for Marco Rubio’s senate seat in the 2022 midterm elections. Please say it isn’t so. Rumor has it that Jared is starting a campaign to support his wife’s efforts in this regard. Reports claim that he is bad-mouthing Rubio, saying he is terrible and worthless, and encouraging people to pledge their support to Ivanka. 

Let’s be clear. I’m no fan of Marco Rubio. But when does it end? Just like Jared had no clue or expertise on the myriad of assignments Trump gave him as a White House advisor (remember overseeing border wall construction, solving the opioid crisis, ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, addressing the coronavirus crisis), so Ivanka has no relevant experience to serve as a senator of Florida. Like her father, I doubt that she could explain how a bill becomes a law. Nor is she knowledgeable about the many unique challenges that Florida faces.  Apparently, Steve Bannon is on this Ivanka-for-Senate bandwagon as well. In his book Fire and Fury, he called her, “dumb as a brick”.  I guess getting a pardon changed his thinking—radically.

So why does this “Javanka,” as they are known, phenomenon bother me so much? Every night on the news we see people waiting in line to be tested, to get vaccines, to procure boxes of food. We see selfless volunteers delivering medicines to those who are housebound, working at distribution centers stuffing care bags with groceries, healthcare workers working double and triple shifts to help those who are flooding emergency rooms. In contrast, Ivanka and Jared have this entitlement mentality. They truly act as though they are royalty—the king and queen of America—above the fray with divine rights. No getting their hands dirty dealing with the masses for them.  

We’ve all read how much the super wealthy have profited during this pandemic. Some estimates claim that the wealthiest Americans have increased their wealth by almost 40 percent. In contrast, more than 429,000 people have died from the virus, more than 22 million people have lost their jobs, more than 100,000 small businesses have closed forever. 

It would have been nice to have just a small amount of empathy, compassion or aid from this royal duo. But so far, that is not the case. Just for comparison’s sake, let’s contrast this “first daughter’s” focus with Dr. Jill Biden’s first week as first lady. So far, she has met with the governors’ spouses over Zoom, videotaped a message to the American Library Association’s midwinter virtual conference, visited the Whitman-Walker Health Clinic, and brought treats and thanked many national guard workers for their service and protection. 

What a difference an administration makes! In my mind, it’s a welcome one.

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of Deloitte’s Federal Human Capital practice. Since her retirement, she has focused on writing, reading, piano, travel, nature, and gardening.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Letters to Editor

  2. Maria –

    Wonderful ….

    We can only hope and pray that a Trump or Kushner never holds elective office anywhere again.
    Once was too much.

  4. Thank you again, Maria. This will hopefully not be your last insightful column not as long as we are experiencing this run on decency.
    And, yes, our wealthiest have done well. We had already achieved the highest level of income inequality in the industrialized world when 651 of our billionaires would become $1 trillion wealthier as 8 million of us fell into poverty.

  5. My question too. When will it stop with these people? When will people realize how these folks take advantage of them.

  6. Thanks for this excellent piece of Javanka. I too find it revolting that these 2, an Trump himself, are so oblivious to to the suffering of so many, to which they have made a significant contribution, if only through stupidity and inaction.

    I am very pleased the the Spy distributes such thoughtful commentary in the district of gun-toting Andy Harris. The fundamental battle now is between reality and delusional far right fantasy. America never ceases to amaze

    Handsomely done. I am grateful.

  7. I guess “Javanka” Donnie Jr, Eric and his wife are going to re-start the “Know Nothing” party of 1849! However, none of the trump progeny nor their spouses will meet the lofty standards of that other well-known Know Nothing candidate ex-President Millard Fillmore! If the voters of Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina put them into office, then they will be the Know Nothings!

  9. Cant wait to read Grants article on Hunter Biden, Frank Biden James Biden a Talbot county resident and not to forget Joe Biden. Its driving me crazy where all that wealth came from.

    • They will get around to it after they wrap up answering questions about reports in The Hill last year about Chelsea Clinton earning $600,000 annually from NBC and $9,000,000 from serving on Boards of companies run by Hillary Clinton supporter Barry Diller.

  10. Enough!!! The election is over and we need to move on. The reaction to Ivanka’s lifestyle will soon compare to the corruption of the Biden family so give it a rest. I am tired of hearing about politics in the Spy. Either we talk instead about how we can improve our community and help those in need or I for one will cancel the Spy. I think we are all better people than this!!!

    • Really? This obscene family nearly destroyed our democracy…and our environment, Justice Department, really everything that is decent. Of course you want us all to move on and forget
      about it because Trumpies are equally responsible. And you all know it.

      His daughter and son in law are no better. They are the laughing stock of people they hope
      to impress: world leaders and those of influence. Socially, they are pariahs. Actually the only
      fans they have are the MAGA crowd, and we know these two would never consider them as
      anything but pawns.

    • Agree… this just gets people worked up and angry— there are so many wealthy people obnoxiously spending their fortunes. Writing about it in a publication such as this does not serve a community well, nor does it breed unity and peace. Move on.

  11. Thank you Ms Grant for this summation of how low this “wanna be respectable” family is. What a stain on our history and insult to the truly great families that have occupied the White House! Outside of selling us snake oil, the Trumps had very little interaction with us regular folk, nor did they want any. Unless people could be used as props, there was little value in pursuing relationships outside the clan. The sad part is that there doesn’t seem to be anyone willing to hold up a mirror to their face, and prove there’s little else under all that makeup!

  13. It’s time to try to forget the Trump dinasty. All the focus should be taken by Fiscal Investigators, on all tax evasions, money laundry on fiscal paradises an investments in former URSS/Russia.

  16. Just one error, but at Trump’s age it may be irrelevant.
    In 1965, Congress authorized the Secret Service (Public Law 89-186) to protect a former president and their spouse during their lifetime, unless they decline protection. In 1997, Congress enacted legislation (Public Law 103-329) that limits Secret Service protection for former presidents to 10 years after leaving office. Under this new law, individuals who are in office before January 1, 1997, will continue to receive Secret Service protection for their lifetime. Individuals elected to office after that time will receive protection for 10 years after leaving office, unless protection is declined. Therefore, President Clinton will be the last president to receive lifetime protection.

    • Thank you so much for this helpful clarification. I have also read some contradictory articles about whether if a president is impeached and convicted after he leaves office these perks are denied. It’s clear they are if he is impeached and convicted while in office but not if he is impeached and convicted after he leaves office. Again thanks.

  17. Hi Maria, I have never seen 31 comments before. Your contempt for anything Trump sure strikes a chord with this readership.
    Your hatred and loathing seems so personal. Did Trump destroy your family? Please share.

    • Most comments were supportive. Trump did not destroy my family–more like the entire US. The good news is there are a lot of smart well-informed people in Talbot County.

      • So Trump destroyed the country? Oh, i see, the “greater good” thing? Your unwillingness to answer my direct question speaks volumes.

        • What an odd thing to say; you believe we all live in a vacuum. Any one, yes anyone, who support T cares nothing
          for our nation, it’s heritage and what our Founders hoped for. It is all about personal greed and cult of personality.
          It’s not like our country has never been so divided….it is sad that a person like Trump made this obscenity “mainstream”. And it took a mentally unstable person to pull this off.

  18. Dare I suggest now that you have surely completed your expose of Former President Trump and his family, you will focus your literary energy into exposing the “plausible deniability” of the Biden family.

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