Ivanka Trump has come under scrutiny for some of her more hypocritical pro-women statements while supporting her father’s anti-women policies in office. But on Thursday, Ivanka opened up about an emotional, still-taboo issue during her much-publicized interview on The Dr. Oz Show: She suffered from postpartum depression after giving birth to each of her children.
“With each of my three children, I had some level of postpartum depression,” Trump said during the interview. “It was a very challenging emotional time for me because I felt like I was not living up to my potential as a parent or as an entrepreneur and executive.”
.@IvankaTrump touched on a topic during our interview that women across the world can identify with: postpartum depression. Watch tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Hf3CTxsmZN
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) September 20, 2017
Postpartum depression especially hit Ivanka Trump hard, she said, because she considers herself ambitious. Having depression got in the way of her drive.
“Look, I consider myself a very hard-charging person. I am ambitious. I’m passionate. I’m driven, but this is something that affects parents all over the country,” she said.
For some, hearing about Ivanka Trump’s depression was a humanizing moment.
She’s a shitty person, but don’t get on her for this…post-partum depression is real, and it’s not cured by being wealthy.
— Trivia Jockey (@TheTriviaJockey) September 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/amyd313/status/910627657494224896
Though I agree, depression has nothing to do with wealth. Being rich doesn’t mean you can’t suffer from postpartum depression.
— Alyssa Geisinger ☮️ (@AlyssaxG87) September 21, 2017
But not everyone was sympathetic to Ivanka. Many complained that her father’s Obamacare repeal agenda would target working- and middle-class mothers with postpartum depression around the world. Some considered her coming out ill-timed for that reason or hypocritical.
I’ve got post-election depression re Party that excludes pregnancy/women’s healthcare from coverage https://t.co/6HeJFAzJrF
— Laura Kennedy (@AmbKennedy_ret) September 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/gregpinelo/status/910879097374601216
https://twitter.com/scarylawyerguy/status/910880661703135232
https://twitter.com/Flowerstoall/status/910692107723124737
Disingenuous comes across as represented. Stay woke
— Mavis Emory (@MCEmory) September 21, 2017
Others replied with two words: “Who cares?”
Who cares
— GotTrees? (@lee_trees) September 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Debr1049Debra/status/910510032189566976
Who cares? Won’t be covered for everyday moms under Graham-Cassidy bill
— Sally G (@sallyagale) September 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/realjfriedman/status/910519002455248896
In summary, destigmatizing a condition many mothers suffer from is good, but not using your privilege to protect these mothers’ healthcare is, again, the definition of complicity.
