Trump family fortunes on electoral line as US awaits results of 2020 election

As Donald Trump awaits results of the US election from inside the White House, no one will feel the verdict more keenly than his famously close-knit family. Because as much as securing another four years in office will be critical for the legacy of President Trump, it will also determine whether his children are able to cement their status as an American political dynasty alongside the likes of the Bushes, the Clintons and the Kennedys.
While First Lady Melania Trump has appeared lukewarm about her place in the national spotlight, the President’s three eldest children have taken up their role with gusto since appearing on stage at the 2016 Republican Convention where they were dubbed “stars”.
Even Trump’s then opponent, Hillary Clinton, said she “respected” his offspring when asked to name something positive about her rival.
“His children are incredibly able and devoted, and I think that says a lot about Donald,” she said.
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Since then, Donald Jr, 42, Ivanka, 38, and Eric, 37, have carved out a niche for themselves in the reflected glory of the White House. Each has inherited their father’s eye for a media moment and regularly featured at global meetings, political rallies and debates during his presidency.
In the final stretch of the campaign, Don Jr told supporters to get out and vote in a final rally in Wisconsin and teased his own potential leadership bid.
“We need you to get out and bring your friends to vote tomorrow, and when we do, we cannot only keep making America great again, but we can make liberals cry again!” he shouted on stage. “Get out there and do it, Wisconsin! Get out there and do it!”
Ivanka also told the crowd she was proud of her dad, saying “Unlike politicians, he’s never forgot why he ran for president and who he’s fighting for – you!”
A final post ahead of polls opening on her Instagram showed her landing with her father on election day at 2:45am at the White House.
“No one works harder than our President and he left it all on the field!!!” she wrote.
“VOTE for President Trump for four more years!”
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Former US attorney for Michigan and Trump commentator Barb McQuade told Politico the election will be critical for the political fortunes of Trump’s family.
It will determine whether they are able to impress MAGA culture on the American landscape and secure their own networks of high-profile leaders and CEOs, or whether they will be forced to return to the family brand in the private sector.
“If Trumpism prevails again, it becomes more established in our political fabric and paves the way for an heir apparent, such as Donald Trump, Jr. or Ivanka Trump. We could see one or both of them run for office in the momentum of their father,” she said.
“If Trump loses, then that could portend an end to the politics of division, which would be a roadblock to political aspirations of the Trump children.”
Donald Trump Jr officially serves as the vice president of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organisation, however is most commonly seen as the heir apparent to his father by goading liberals online and whipping up the Trumpian base.
He has been described as “his father on steroids. With a lot more internet savvy” by CNN editor-at-large Chris Cillizza and even mooted a 2024 run himself with an Instagram picture last week.
“Hahahahaha. Oh boy. This was a sign I saw up at the Fallon Nevada Livestock Auction. This will make the lib heads explode. To whomever made that thanks for the compliment … but let’s get through 2020 with a big win first!!!!,” the first son said.
He is dating former Fox News legal analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle, 51, who often attends events with him. He is a keen hunter often seen with a beard and checked shirt, attempting to cultivate an everyman image despite being born into extreme wealth.
Ivanka, 38, officially works as adviser to the President and along with husband Jared Kushner, is most close to her father’s political life. She champions economic empowerment, workforce development and entrepreneurship according to her Twitter bio, and has appeared beside her father at G20 summits, famously taking his seat at the G20 in Germany during a leader’s summit in a move that sparked outrage about nepotism.
Trump said in 2018 he wanted to appoint her as US ambassador to the UN and asked her to run the World Bank – which she reportedly declined.
Her husband Jared Kushner has seemingly been the man for the difficult jobs, tasked with sorting out peace in the Middle East and the coronavirus pandemic.
Eric Trump, 36, is executive VP of the Trump Organisation and a high profile campaigner alongside his siblings. His wife Lara, 37, has a broadcasting background and has worked to build support among women for her father-in-law’s campaign
Tiffany Trump, 27, has previously kept a low profile but has been stepping into the spotlight more of late including with a controversial speech at the Republican convention in 2020.
She is Trump’s only child from his six-year marriage to Marla Maples.
Barron Trump, 14, still lives in the White House with First Lady Melania Trump and stays out of the spotlight but was recently revealed to have suffered coronavirus at the same time as his parents.
In contrast to the glitzy fortunes of the Trumps, Joe Biden’s family life has been scarred by tragedy.
His first wife and daughter, Naomi, were killed in a car crash in 1972 while on the way to buy a Christmas tree with Biden’s other two children, Hunter and Beau.
Biden raised the children with the help of his sister commuting from Delaware to Washington where he was a senator.
In 1977 he married his current wife Jill who is a teacher. His son Beau served in the US military in Iraq and as state attorney for Delaware. Beau died of cancer in 2015 aged 46 leaving behind two children.
His other son, Hunter, has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and was discharged from the Navy Reserve in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine use.
He has become the subject of Trump’s frequent attacks after serving on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company while his father was vice president under Barack Obama.
Hunter, 50, has admitted displaying “poor judgment” in his business dealings but denied any wrongdoing. He is now a painter in LA.