First daughter Ivanka Trump reportedly left a White House conference call on Tuesday when a reporter asked her to comment on her brand receiving a wave of trademark approvals from China that have raised ethics concerns.
Trump was co-hosting the background call with Holli Richmond, director of the president's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, ahead of the White House's Sports and Fitness Day on Wednesday. A few days before, reports emerged that China had given Trump's fashion brand approval for 13 trademarks over the past three months, with some granted shortly before her father, President Donald Trump, pledged to save Chinese telecommunications company ZTE from financial collapse.
When a reporter asked the president's eldest daughter to address the trademark approvals, as well as the president's exercise routine, press aide Ninio Fetalvo said, "You can refer those questions to the press office," according to CBS News.
A CNN reporter then asked Ivanka Trump to talk about her father's fitness in light of White House physician Ronny Jackson's recommendation in January that he drop some weight.
Following a short moment of silence, Fetalvo said, "So Ivanka had to step out for another meeting, but Holli is here to take on the additional questions."
Questions the White House/ Ivanka Trump did not answer:
— Jacqueline Alemany (@JaxAlemany) May 30, 2018
1) Ivanka Trump’s conflicts of interest
2) progress on Trump’s weight loss/ fitness regimen
3) will Melania be at her husband’s fitness day event tomorrow https://t.co/uawlWFRLyo
Richmond was unable to answer additional reporters' questions on whether first lady Melania Trump would be at the fitness event for more than 250 children and parents. She did say that the president would be present to "make remarks and to uplift this collaboration with Health and Human Services."
White House officials did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment on Wednesday.
Watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) pointed out last Friday that Ivanka Trump's business received five of the trademark approvals from China on May 7, in the same week as the president announced he would help ZTE.
"As a White House adviser, Ivanka has represented the United States at multiple diplomatic events despite the potential conflicts her business interests present," CREW said on its website. "Although Ivanka has stepped down from her role at her business and has placed it in a trust, she continues to receive profits from the business."
