Ivanka Trump draws ire over beach horseback riding video: ‘Let them eat cake’

Ivanka Trump faced a wave of online criticism after sharing a horseback-riding video that many viewers dismissed as out of touch with everyday Americans. The clip, posted Monday on X and Instagram, shows a woman galloping along a beach at sunset, set to Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida,” a song about a fallen king. It was unclear whether Ivanka Trump was the rider, but the post quickly went viral, racking up more than 15 million views on X alone.

Although comments were restricted, users across the political spectrum quoted the post to voice their displeasure. Many pointed to rising living costs across the U.S., contrasting them with the carefree lifestyle on display in the clip. The corrupt Trump family is so out of touch with ordinary Americans,” the X account Republicans Against Trump added.

Trump has long faced accusations that he and his family have profited off the presidency. In his first year back in office, his personal income soared to $2.2 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Everybody is profiting,” the 80-year-old president told reporters in July.

Compared to her father’s first term, Ivanka Trump has largely shied away from politics. She and her husband, Jared Kushner, recently paid $1.4 billion for an island off Albania, which they plan to turn into a luxury resort. However, the island turned out to be a nature preserve and the announcement of the American couple’s plans to develop it into a commercial venture led to weeks of nationwide protests in Albania.

In response to the horse-riding video, other users pointed to an August investigation by The New York Times, which reported that, under the Trump administration, wild horses are being slaughtered. The outlet found that the Bureau of Land Management is “quietly” selling off thousands of horses to buyers for cheap, which can then be processed and sold overseas. Not all of the comments were negative, though.

Have they never been on vacation in the Caribbean?...I don't get it. Are we not supposed to enjoy life?” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies