Donald Trump's campaign took America and the world by storm, and it does not seem it will let up regardless of the outcome of Election 2016. While his incendiary rhetoric and shoot-from-the-hip, take-no-prisoners public speaking stylings did not always garner positive reviews, there was one key element of his campaign which remained untainted: his kids. Even Hillary Clinton, his bitter Democratic rival, acknowledged the poise and capability of the young Trumps, and Donald's close relationship with them hints at the important roles they would play in a possible Trump administration. But what are the publicly stated political views of Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric? How would they influence a future President Trump, officially or behind the scenes? Here is a glimpse.
Donald Trump's first born son, Donald Jr., has expressed political views which largely mirror his father's, albeit in less provocative and extreme form. He is a big supporter of small government and deregulation, repeatedly slamming government agencies and policies which tie American businessmen's hands. Part of "making America great again" clearly involves slashing regulation across the board - up to 70 percent according to the Trump campaign's plans - and Donald Jr. agrees with that. He has also spoken on the issue of education reform, famously comparing American public schools to a stalled elevator and a Soviet-style bureaucratic machine which runs for the benefit of the clerks and not the students.
Ivanka Trump is her dad's closest confidante, to the point where many people wonder who would wield more power in a possible Trump White House: the First Lady or the First Daughter. She is a somewhat welcome contrast to Donald Trump's brawling banter with her calm and polished countenance. Ivanka already made a major mark on the Trump campaign with her involvement in her father's child care policy proposal. It offered federally mandated paid coverage for six weeks of maternity leave, a tax credit for child-rearing expenses, and a host of other measures which were meant to ease the life of new parents. The policy, however, came under heavy attack for its focus on child-bearing heterosexual mothers alone, and Ivanka Trump's inability to defend this position effectively took some of her nationwide media appeal away. She still remains close to her father, though, and is likely to play an important role in his political future.
Eric, the third child of Donald and Ivana Trump, has not strayed from his dad's hardline rhetoric on immigrants, trade deals, or foreign policy. He has also shown less restraint in his public statements than his older siblings, like that one time he said David Duke "deserves a bullet". Contrary to the impression such harsh quips create, however, Eric Trump seems to be the only one of Donald's children who is actively involved in serious charity work. His eponymous foundation has invested tens of millions of dollars into California's St. Jude Hospital for children battling with cancer. His efforts have led to the expansion of the hospital's surgical and ICU wing. Curiously, Eric, along with Ivanka, could not vote in the New York Republican primaries because they failed to register on time. He spoke out against the unnecessarily stringent rules, so we may take this to be a liberal view on voter registration and inclusiveness.
This piece would not be complete without mentioning Tiffany, Donald Trump's other adult daughter with second wife Marla Maples. She tends to get separated from the trio of Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric for a number of reasons, but she appeared at the RNC to support her father's nomination nonetheless. Her speech highlighted the private and somewhat softer side of the billionaire, but throughout it Tiffany hinted at her own expectations of the next POTUS, like bringing out the best in people, being a cheerleader, and striving for excellence in all endeavors. While not overtly political, the qualities Tiffany chose to highlight demonstrate her admiration for strong leaders who motivate their countries to work hard and prosper.