Ivanka Trump responds to women boycotting her clothing brand: 'There’s nothing I can do to change that'

Unfazed daughter of embattled Republican nominee says millions of American women are inspired by her brand

Donald and Ivanka Trump (Getty)

The women in Donald Trump’s immediate family are disproportionately affected every time a fresh controversy about the Republican nominee emerges.

Melania Trump’s nude modelling pictures were splashed across the front of the New York Post and her infamous address to the Republican National Convention was the butt of a joke made by her own husband last week, to the delight of dinner guests.

Ivanka Trump has also paid a price in the increased exposure and scrutiny placed upon her. Her continued support for her father’s campaign after the allegations of sexual assault made against him, which he has strenuously denied, has led women to pledge to boycott shops stocking her clothing and accessories line.

The #grabyourwallet boycott, a reference to Mr Trump’s “grab her by the p***y” remarks, is targeting major retailers such as Macy’s and Nordstrom. Ivanka has denounced her father’s comment as “inappropriate and offensive” but continues to campaign for him and it is this refusal to distance herself that has provoked the ire of women.

But Ivanka appears resigned to their boycott and unmoved by the motivations behind it.

The 34-year-old was asked by Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos about the impact of the boycott on her brand and what she would say to those women joining it.

“The beauty of America is that people can do what they like, but I prefer to talk to the millions, tens of millions of American women, who are inspired by the brand and the message that I’ve created,” she replied.

“My advocacy of women, trying to empower them in all aspects of their life, started long before this presidential campaign did. I’ve never politicised that message. People who are seeking to politicise it because they disagree with the politics of my father—there’s nothing I can do to change that.”

The boycott was launched by Shannon Coulter, a tech and marketing specialist. How effective it will be on sales remains to be seen but research suggests the aftershocks of Mr Trump’s controversies may prove to be pervasive, with Fortune reporting only one in four women surveyed by Morning Consult said they would consider buying from her clothing line.