Ivanka Trump, daughter of the former U.S. President and his advisor, broke her silence regarding reports related to the Farmers' Food Box Program that she oversaw during her father's administration. Trump launched the program in the last year of his presidency to provide food to families in response to the COVID-19 crisis and support farmers in the United States, with Ivanka managing it. The program was estimated to cost between $4 to $6 billion and connected farmers in the U.S. with local food banks.
However, news reports indicated that a subcommittee in Congress revealed that the program awarded millions of dollars to unqualified contractors. It was suggested that the program aimed to boost Trump's chances in the presidential elections and enhance Ivanka's image, showcasing her distributing food boxes to families. For instance, one contract, which raised suspicions, was estimated at around $39 million and was awarded to CRE8AD8, a company specializing in wedding planning rather than food distribution.
In light of these accusations, Ivanka issued a rare statement criticizing news reports and comments from lawmakers belonging to the Democratic Party. She stated, "It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that media outlets would work with Democrats in Congress in a clear and frantic attempt to distract from the staggering failures of the current administration (Biden administration)." The statement noted that Democrats supported the program when it was launched, pointing out praise from some of their members for the charitable initiative. She confirmed, "The program was incredibly successful, feeding tens of millions of hungry Americans and keeping small American farms afloat during the worst phases of the pandemic."
