Kellyanne Conway urges Americans to 'buy Ivanka's stuff'

'Go buy Ivanka's stuff,' a top White House adviser urged American shoppers on Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump sharply criticized a department store for dropping his daughter's clothing line.

White House adviser Kellyanne during her interview with Fox News Fox and Friends, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017

White House adviser Kellyanne during her interview with Fox News Fox and Friends, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 Source: Fox News

A top White House aide has been counselled for promoting the clothing line named after President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer confirmed the latest development at his daily press briefing.

"Kellyanne has been counselled, and that's all we are going to go with," he told reporters in response to a question.

"She's been counselled on the subject, and that's it."

Conway drew immediate criticism from ethics experts a day after the president attacked a retailer for dropping Ivanka's products.

"Go buy Ivanka's stuff ...I'm going to go get some myself today," Conway told Fox News in an interview from the White House on Thursday. "I'm going to give a free commercial here: Go buy it today, everybody."

Norman Eisen, who served as an ethics adviser to Democratic President Barack Obama, said Conway's comments amounted to an advertisement and violated government ethics law.

"It's a violation of the rule," Eisen told MSNBC. "It's a serious matter."

Former Office of Government Ethics chief Don Fox told the Washington Post Conway's comments appeared to violate rules barring the use of public office for anyone's private gain.

Ivanka's brand was thrust into the headlines after her father on Wednesday attacked department store chain Nordstrom Inc for dropping her products, in a highly unusual move that drew criticism for his use of a White House twitter platform to intervene in a commercial matter.

Other retailers that have dropped the Ivanka line include Neiman Marcus and HSN Inc, while Macy's Inc , TJX Cos, Hudson's Bay Co, while runs high-end chains like Lord & Taylor, and Dillards Inc still carry it.

An ongoing campaign called #GrabYourWallet encourages shoppers to boycott products with ties to President Trump and his family. Separately, supporters have launched an alternative social media campaign called #BuyIvanka.

Ivanka Trump has said she would step away from her company when her father took office in the White House. A spokeswoman for the Ivanka Trump brand declined to comment on Wednesday.


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Published 10 February 2017 7:00am
Updated 10 February 2017 8:53am
Source: AFP


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