“The State Department’s intention appears to be to deny Ivanka Trump any further credibility. The move also hints at the ever-widening rift between the White House and Secretary Tillerson.”
Rex Tillerson is sending the Trump administration a message: the State Department will not support the president’s daughter. Reading tea leaves, one can wonder if Tillerson supports the Trump administration in general. Ivanka Trump will be heading to India in order to promote women’s entrepreneurship at the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit. The State Department, on the other hand, is sending no high-level officials.
This is noteworthy, because the State Department usually does send high-level staff to the summit. In fact, in the past, secretaries of state have attended the event personally. John Kerry went. One year, even President Obama attended. The State Department’s complete lack of presence appears to be due to the growing rift between the White House and the State Department, rather than a simple oversight.
Reportedly, the relationship between the White House and State Department has continued to deteriorate.
With Ivanka Trump headlining the delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, the State Department is loath to lend any extra credibility to the “first daughter.” The State Department’s intention appears to be to deny Ivanka Trump any further credibility. The move also hints at the ever-widening rift between the White House and Secretary Tillerson.
Ivanka is officially an unpaid employee within the White House, subject to all of the other rules as other employees. Initially, she had served in an unofficial capacity, but this drew too much scrutiny. In spite of the official position within the White House, many within the federal government still eye Ivanka and her considerable influence with suspicion.
In fact, the entire “family affair” within the Trump administration has left many government officials wary. The First Family enjoys influence that has been unprecedented in recent years. Usually, presidents seek to distance their family from their administration. Some critics charge that the Trump family is acting like a royal family.
As for the State Department, many believe that Secretary Tillerson is upset at his relatively limited influence as America’s top diplomat. When Tillerson was first nominated to be Secretary of State, it was widely reported that he would be given a lot of leeway and say. However, Tillerson has struggled to have any real input on policy and to push through even lower level nominations for staff. The president has also contradicted Tillerson on numerous occasions.
Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner continue to enjoy substantial say with the president and policy in general. While Kushner has come under pressure due to alleged Russian connections, Ivanka has largely remained above the fray.
Reportedly, the relationship between the White House and State Department has continued to deteriorate. Infamously, Tillerson called Trump a moron during a meeting at the Pentagon. Later, Tillerson refused to refute or walk back the comments.
Tillerson Doesn’t Enjoy Much Support Within the State Department
Tillerson is suffering from low support within the State Department as well. Tillerson was brought on to reform the State Department by introducing some private sector practices in an effort to increase efficiency and output. However, many within the State Department view Tillerson as aloof and ineffective.
Tillerson has also sidelined many of the bureaucrats and managers within the State Department. Reportedly, Tillerson has even refused to meet with top security advisors within the department. Following the Benghazi attacks, high-level security officials are supposed to have essentially unlimited access to the Secretary of State. Apparently, Tillerson has been refusing such access.
With little support within the State Department or at the White House, many speculate that Tillerson won’t last long into the new year. Turnover at the White House and the other highest echelons of the federal government is common. However, the turmoil seen in Trump’s DC is outside the norm.
