Across the U.S., large swaths of the public school system have temporarily closed down at the same time that huge portions of industries like hospitality — including restaurants, bars, and more — have also either mostly or entirely closed. That’s left many people suddenly struggling to make ends meet, but this Tuesday, a post from President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka seemed to suggest to many that she completely failed to understand the gravity of the situation. To her, the situation seemed like just another opportunity for a photo op.
Alongside a photo of her and her kids taking her own advice, she shared on Twitter:
‘Staying home today w/ kids? Plan living room camp out! Throw a bedsheet over some taped together brooms. Plan a menu & ‘pack’ sandwiches, salads (S’mores optional) A fun activity that also brings family together for a meal! Share your ideas & use the hashtag #TogetherApart’
Staying home today w/ kids?
Plan living room camp out!
Throw a bedsheet over some taped together brooms. Plan a menu & ‘pack’ sandwiches, salads (S’mores optional😜)
A fun activity that also brings family together for a meal!
Share your ideas & use the hashtag #TogetherApart pic.twitter.com/rgwCl8IIHY
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) March 17, 2020
That’s great! The problem is that her privilege obscures the many Americans who are right now struggling. What are the families of the many children suddenly out of school supposed to do? What if their parents still have to go into work outside the house? What if their parents’ job or jobs have been eliminated altogether? As just one example, the Marriott corporation is planning to furlough tens of thousands of workers. Tens of thousands! Odds are, plenty of those folks have children who they’re now wondering how to care for.
While Ivanka has been tweeting, others have been working on a solution. There’s already a third phase of Coronavirus relief funding in development, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) insists must put “families first.” She shared:
‘During negotiations, the Democratic House will continue to make clear to the Administration that any emergency response package must put Families First before any aid to corporate America is considered.’
Pelosi makes no mention of aid to airlines or hotels as Mnuchin is pitching. “During negotiations, the Democratic House will continue to make clear to the Administration that any emergency response package must put Families First before any aid to corporate America is considered” https://t.co/D86AY2pKpo
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 17, 2020
There’ve been reports swirling about bailout packages for industries like airlines, which have been hit hard by a combination of plummeting demand and travel restrictions. On the flip side of that, at a Tuesday press conference, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did say that direct aid for American families was getting planned.
Check out Twitter’s response below:
