Ivanka Trump claims she 'tries to keep out of politics' - despite influential White House role

President Donald Trump's senior adviser, his daughter Ivanka,  has insisted that she "tries to stay out of politics", as she sought to defend herself and her father from criticism of his administration.

Ms Trump, 35, told Fox News on Monday morning that she tried to avoid the fray - despite having an influential role in the White House and being granted security clearance.

“I try to stay out of politics," she said, when asked why she did not do more to stop her father's tweets. 

"His political instincts are phenomenal. He did something that no one could have imagined he'd be able to accomplish.

“I feel blessed just being part of the ride from day one and before. But he did something pretty remarkable. But I don't profess to be a political savant.”

Ms Trump is widely seen as one of the most respected advocates for her father. But she has also been strongly criticised for failing to temper his policies on climate change, or push him towards acknowledging gay rights.

She was mercilessly mocked by Scarlett Johansson during a Saturday Night Live skit, in which she was described as "complicit".  

Since then, the eldest Trump daughter has repeatedly stated that she has disagreements with her father, but prefers not to air them publicly.

“We’re two different human beings," she said.

"I think it’s normal to not have 100 per cent aligned viewpoints on every issue. I don’t think anyone operates like that with a parent, or within the context of an administration, and I think that all different viewpoints being at the table is a positive thing. And I think one of the things that, in this country, we don’t have enough of is dialogue.”

Ms Trump, who ran a clothes and accessories brand before moving to Washington in January, hit back at her critics, saying it was far easier to criticise from the sidelines than it was to get something done.

"There's always naysayers. And it's much easier to criticise than it is to actually dive in and do and effect change and move the ball forward," she said.

The interviewer asked what she thought of her father's work so far, and what grade she would give him.

"An A," she said. "I'm slightly biased, but definitely an A."