Ivanka Trump made a quiet style statement in Miami on Thursday, choosing a low-key appearance far from Washington as the spotlight shone on her stepmother, Melania Trump’s biggest Hollywood moment yet.
While political heavyweights, celebrities, and members of the Trump family gathered at the Kennedy Center for the world premiere of Melania, Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner were photographed leaving a high-profile JPMorgan Chase & Co. event in Miami Beach, where they live with their three children.
The outing placed the couple hundreds of miles away from the black carpet rollout of the $40 million Amazon MGM documentary that chronicles Melania Trump’s return to the White House.
Ivanka, 44, leaned into relaxed polish for the Miami appearance. She wore a fuzzy cornflower-blue sweater set with a soft, draped neckline, paired with a navy pleated skirt.
Oversized black sunglasses completed the understated look, giving it an off-duty elegance that felt worlds apart from premiere-night glamour. Kushner, 45, matched her casual tone in black jeans, a navy jacket, and black sneakers as the pair exited the event.
Their low-key presence in Florida stood in sharp contrast to the scene unfolding in Washington, D.C., where Melania Trump walked the black carpet alongside President Donald Trump at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center.
The premiere marked the official launch of Melania, a one-hour, 44-minute documentary that follows the first lady through the 20 days leading up to her husband’s January 2025 inauguration.
“I’m very proud of the film,” Melania told reporters as she arrived for the premiere. “You will see humor, you will see grief, you will see fashion,” she said, adding that audiences will learn “what it takes from going from private citizen to first lady again.”
For the occasion, Melania, 55, opted for signature restraint in a black Dolce and Gabbana ensemble, featuring a button-down long-sleeve jacket with an elegant collar and glossy black buttons. She paired the look with sky-high Christian Louboutin stilettos, reinforcing the black-and-white visual identity she personally designed for the film’s marketing campaign.
President Trump, who described the documentary as “a very important movie,” added, “It shows life in the White House. It’s a big deal, actually.” Asked about their marriage, he said simply, “We do like the way it worked out.”
The premiere drew a lengthy guest list that blended politics, media, and celebrity culture. Attendees included stepson Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancée, Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson.
Notably absent from the cast list, and from speaking roles in the film itself, are Melania’s four stepchildren. Ivanka appears only briefly in background shots during inauguration scenes, according to a person who viewed the documentary. Eric Trump and his wife Lara did not attend the premiere, though a representative said they were “deeply proud of the First Lady and the remarkable story being shared.”
Ivanka’s decision to remain in Miami revived long-running speculation about the dynamics within the Trump family, rumors that Melania addressed directly in her 2024 memoir, 'Melania'
Reflecting on becoming a stepmother, she wrote, “Stepping into a marriage with Donald, I found myself navigating the intricate dynamics of his big family.”
“My approach to building relationships with Donald’s children has always been grounded in love and respect,” she continued. “I recognize their individuality, understanding that, as their stepmother, my role is not to replace their mothers but to nurture a supportive and amicable connection.”
She acknowledged that disagreements are inevitable, adding, “While I may not agree with every opinion or choice expressed by Donald’s grown children, nor do I align with all of Donald’s decisions, I acknowledge that different viewpoints are a natural aspect of human relationships.”
Melania has emphasized that the documentary reflects her own voice and vision. “What I do, what I don’t do, when I talk, when I don’t talk. And that’s my choice, and nobody is in charge of me,” she told Fox News ahead of the premiere.