Ivanka Trump was strategic with her outfit choice on Thursday morning when she put on a shirtdress from Beulah London, a luxury brand that invests a portion of its profits to create employment opportunities for vulnerable and trafficked women around the world.
The 37-year-old first daughter donned the demure frock to join Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in unveiling the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report at the State Department, where they honored those who have dedicated their lives to ending human trafficking.
Ivanka was wearing the $712.50 powder blue and cream shirtdress from the British fashion label — a possible purchase from her recent trip to the UK — when she stepped out of her Washington, D.C. home and headed to the event just before 8:30 a.m.
Early start: Ivanka Trump was all smiled as she stepped out of her Washington, D.C. home on Thursday morning
Outfit: The 37-year-old first daughter donned a demure blue and white shirtdress by the British fashion brand Beulah London
Big event: Ivanka was on her way to join Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in unveiling the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report at the State Department
Her floral silk crepe de chine frock featured a ruffled high neck, mid-length flared sleeves, and delicate buttons. Not only was it chic, but her purchase of the frock also benefits the cause she is championing.
Beulah was co-founded by Natasha Rufus Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan after they traveled to India in 2009 and witnessed the devastating reality of human trafficking.
Through its Freedom Programme, the brand donates 10 per cent of its profits to projects and partners who create opportunities for women who have been trafficked into the sex trade against their will by helping them break the cycle of poverty through meaningful employment, according to the brand’s website.
Ivanka added personal touches to her thoughtfully-planned outfit, including a thin white belt that cinched her waist and matching white pumps that highlighted her summer tan.
She topped off the look with a pair of circular white beaded fringe earrings that peeked out from underneath her straight blonde hair, which was parted in the center and worn loose around her shoulders.
The White House Senior adviser also sported natural-looking makeup that gave her a rosy glow that highlighted her ladylike appearance.
Thoughtful: She made a strategic decision when she wore the frock, as Beulah brand donates 10 per cent of its profits to the creation of opportunities for women have been trafficked
Accesories: Ivanka added personal touches to her thoughtfully-planned outfit, including a thin white belt that cinched her waist and white pumps
Handful: The first daughter had a stack of newspapers under her arm, and she also carried a $275 white leather handbag from her now-defunct eponymous fashion brand
Ivanka looked ready to get to work as she stepped out of the front door of her home with a stack of newspapers tucked under her arm.
In addition to the papers, she carried a $275 white leather handbag from her now-defunct eponymous fashion brand.
She appeared to be in good spirits, flashing a bright smile at the photographers outside of her door as she turned the corner and made her way to the Secret Service SUV parked at the curb.
Although she headed to work earlier than usual, her husband Jared Kushner still beat her out of the house on Thursday morning.
The 38-year-old White House senior adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump also flashed a smile as walked out the front door carrying a black duffel bag.
Jared was dressed in his standard dark suit and tie as he made his way to the Secret Service vehicle that was waiting outside for him at about 7:25 a.m.
As senior advisers, the couple often attends different events and work functions, and Jared didn’t appear to be at the State Department to watch his wife in action.
Team work: Ivanka stood close by the Secretary of State as the unveiled the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report together
Added touch: Ivanka’s white beaded fringe earrings peeked out from underneath her hair as she ran her fingers through her blonde locks
Suzie Sunshine: Ivanka’s white heels highlighted her dark tan
Ivanka promoted the release of the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report on social media, writing: ‘This morning, I will join @SecPompeo for the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report release and to honor those heroes who have devoted their lives to fight against human trafficking. #EndTrafficking #TIPReport #TIPReportHeroes.’
On Thursday, the United States added Saudi Arabia and Cuba to its blacklist of countries that it says are not doing enough to fight human trafficking, a designation that could bring sanctions.
In an annual report, the State Department faulted ally Saudi Arabia for rampant violations against its vast foreign labor force and accused adversary Cuba of trafficking through its program of sending doctors overseas.
Other countries that remained on Tier 3, the worst ranking in the report, included China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.
A Tier 3 designation means that the United States can restrict assistance or withdraw support for the country at the International Monetary Fund or other global development bodies.
Pompeo said that the United States last year took measures against 22 countries due to the human trafficking designation.
Focused: The White House senior adviser was attentive at the unveiling of the report, which focuses on government efforst around the world to combat human trafficking
In the middle: Ivanka sat between Pompeo and Adelaide Sawadogo, a social worker for Keoogo
‘That action and the message that goes with it is very clear — if you don’t stand up to trafficking, America will stand up to you,’ he said as he presented the report alongside Ivanka.
The president, however, can also waive sanctions over human trafficking, and U.S. officials often hope that the shame of the Tier 3 designation will encourage action, especially when issued against US allies.
Ivanka took to Instagram later in the day to share a snapshot of herself posing with those who were honored at the unveiling.
‘Today I joined Secretary Pompeo to unveil the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report and honor the heroes who have devoted their lives to fight against Modern Slavery – a stain on humanity. #EndTrafficking,’ she captioned the image.
In a series of Instagram Stories posts, Ivanka highlighted some of the men and women they honored that day.
One image shows her and the Secretary of State presenting a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Hero Award to Adelaide Sawadogo, a social worker for Keoogo.
All smiles: The two handed out Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Hero Award to multiple people, including Camilious Machingura from Zimbabwe
Another hero: One image shows Ivanka with Rosaline Equabor, an advocate for Nigerian and West African human trafficking victims and survivors
Presenting awards: In another photo, she is posing with Daniel Ruedo, a co-founder of Alas de Colibri, which is one of two human trafficking shelters in Ecuado
Paying tribute: Ivanka took to Instagram later in the day to share a snapshot of herself posing with those who were honored at the unveiling
‘For 26 years in Burkina Faso, she has worked unrelentingly to protect vulnerable populations from human trafficking,’ she wrote.
In another photo, she is posing with Daniel Ruedo, a co-founder of Alas de Colibri, which is one of two human trafficking shelters in Ecuador.
She explained: ‘This shelter has developed a highly personalized and holistic approach to victim protection that empowers and uplifts human trafficking survivors.’
Other images show Ivanka with Rosaline Equabor, an advocate for Nigerian and West African human trafficking victims and survivors, and Sister Gabriella Bottani, an anti-trafficking advocate within the Catholic diaspora.
Although she seemed to be happy and worry-free earlier in the morning, the day may be shaping up to be a stressful one for the first daughter.
A watchdog group has asked the federal government to investigate Ivanka on Thursday, claiming she violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using their influence interfere in the results of a partisan election.
In the filed complaint to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) accused the first daughter of using her official @IvankaTrump ‘for partisan political purposes on several occasions.’
The group referenced a tweet Ivanka shared just two days before her father’s 2020 presidential campaign kickoff rally in which she praised President Donald Trump and promised that ‘the best is yet to come.’
In trouble: On Thursday, a watchdog group has asked the federal government to investigate Ivanka on Thursday, claiming she violated the Hatch Act
No-no: The law prohibits federal employees from using their influence interfere in the results of a partisan election. Ivanka recently promoted her father’s campaign on social media
Crossing the line: In her Father’s Day post that she shared on Instagram and Twitter, she praised President Donald Trump and promised that ‘the best is yet to come’
CREW also stated that she has violated the law by using her Twitter account to retweet ‘multiple partisan political posts’ since March 2017.
Although CREW acknowledged that Ivanka’s Twitter bio lists it as a ‘personal’ account, it was noted that she also refers to herself as the ‘Advisor to POTUS’ in the description.
The complaint comes just one week after the Office of Special Counsel called for senior White House aide Kellyanne Conway to fired for following multiple violations of the Hatch Act, a request the president ignored.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, White House social media director Dan Scavino, and first lady Melania Trump’s press secretary Stephanie Grisham were also previously accused of being to in violation of the Hatch Act over the course of Trump’s presidency.
‘It has become clear that this rampant abuse of public office is not a problem of ‘one bad apple’ but rather a key feature of the Trump White House,’ said CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder.
‘By blatantly using her office for politics right after the Office of Special Counsel recommended her colleague be fired for repeatedly acting similarly, Ivanka Trump has basically thumbed her nose at the OSC and the rule of law. Never before have we witnessed this level of illegal politicized behavior, and it must not be allowed to continue.’