Former MI6 agent Christopher Steele, in a recent legal proceeding in London, revealed that Ivanka Trump’s undisclosed friendship with him caused a significant strain in her relationship with her father, former President Donald Trump. Steele, known for his involvement in the controversial Trump-Russia dossier, made the statement as part of the ongoing case against his intelligence company, Orbis Business Intelligence.
Steele’s testimony shed light on his long-standing friendship with Ivanka Trump, dating back decades. He disclosed details about their professional and personal relationship, indicating that he had even gifted her a “family tartan from Scotland.” However, according to Steele, Ivanka had not informed her father about their friendship, which, upon discovery, led to severe damage in their relationship.
The revelation came to the forefront during the legal proceedings initiated by Donald Trump against Steele and his company, accusing them of violating UK data-protection laws with the dossier, which contained controversial allegations about Trump’s connections with Russian figures. Trump vehemently denied the claims in the dossier and contested Steele’s testimony about his daughter.
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Steele, in his witness statement, stated, “My understanding is that Ms. Trump had not disclosed our relationship to her father. When Trump found out, it severely damaged their relationship.” Steele attributed much of Trump’s hostility towards him to the former president’s anger over the friendship with Ivanka.
In response to Steele’s claims, Trump called the reference to his daughter “reckless” and vehemently denied any inappropriate relationship, labeling the allegations as “untrue and disgraceful.”
Ivanka Trump, who served as a presidential advisor during her father’s administration, had introduced him at the Republican National Convention in 2020. However, in recent years, she and her husband, Jared Kushner, distanced themselves from politics. Last year, Ivanka Trump announced her withdrawal from Washington, and she was notably absent from her father’s 2024 campaign announcement.
As the legal proceedings continue, Steele’s revelations have brought a new dimension to the intricate relationships within the Trump family, shedding light on the complexities that often lie beneath the surface of public personas.
