Dear Democrats

Real Clear Politics

Dear Democrats: 

Hunter Biden Is No Ivanka Trump

Joe Biden’s campaign can best be summed up as a game of dodgeball. Lately, he’s tried to “dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge” questions about why entities in two foreign countries funneled millions of dollars to his son, despite Hunter’s lack of relevant experience for those “jobs.” 

Worse yet are the efforts by Democrats and many in media to provide cover for the Bidens by absurdly comparing Hunter to Ivanka Trump. When it comes to business background and resume: Plain and simple, there is no comparison. Hunter Biden is no Ivanka Trump. 

Realizing the severity of the situation for the flagging front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, the left is currently in distraction mode. Democrats want to create a false equivalency between Biden being paid by entities in Ukraine and China while his father was vice president, and Ivanka Trump’s successful business enterprises. Anyone who dares to ask questions about Biden’s shady international business dealings is met with “But, but, but what about Ivanka?” The comparison is ludicrous. 

Ivanka Trump spent years in business prior to her father’s leap into politics. As part of building and growing her business, she filed over 120 trademarks to protect her brand and name — all before Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president. It would have been business malpractice for her not to secure legal protections, especially in countries like China where corporate theft is routine. Case in point, within days of President Trump taking office, more than 65 Chinese companies tried to trademark “Ivanka Trump” for different products. As a smart businesswoman, Ivanka fought to prevent companies from stealing and profiting from her name, especially since she was entering public service as an unpaid senior advisor to the president. So, while the media portrays her in a negative light, the truth is that she paid from her own pocket to protect her name while receiving nothing in return. 

Meanwhile, Hunter Biden had zero experience in Ukraine and zero experience in the international gas market, but while Joe Biden was vice president of the United States, a Ukrainian gas company found it useful to pay Hunter $50,000 per month for work that is unknown. Hunter also flew to China on Air Force Two with his father, and his firm later received a $1.5 billion investment from China’s national bank. Both “jobs” occurred while Joe Biden was leading the Obama administration’s policy in those two countries. Coincidence? 

Everyone knows Hunter Biden received these incredible business opportunities only because of his last name. He brought no other skills or expertise to the table — just look at his resume. This is a classic example of a political family profiteering from public service. The New York Times reported that Obama State Department officials had concerns about Hunter’s “businesses.” Even his own partner, the stepson of Secretary of State John Kerry, had concerns about these “deals” and severed their business relationship, according to the Washington Post. 

In contrast, Ivanka Trump has long been a successful, internationally recognized businesswoman. She has also been a success in her father’s administration, leading the drive to improve skills training for American workers and removing the barriers that hold back women around the world. 

So, let me answer the question for you about how Hunter Biden and Ivanka Trump compare: It’s not even close. If you need any further proof, Ivanka is in the White House working hard for the American people, while Hunter Biden dodges questions about his shady business practices, just like his father. 

Marc Lotter is director of strategic communications for Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. He previously served as special assistant to the president and press secretary to the vice president.