"After 17 months in Washington, I do not know when or if I will ever return to the business, but I do know that my focus for the foreseeable future will be the work I am doing here in Washington, so making this decision now is the only fair outcome for my team and partners," she said in a statement.
The company said licensing contracts would not be renewed and those which are currently in place will continue to operate.
The news, naturally, couldn't have escaped the close attention of social media users, with some of them expressing doubts as to whether money from the closed business would stop flowing into the family's pockets, with Ivanka getting "ominously" "closer" to political power and hence, budget funds:
In the latest episode of #GaslitNation, @sarahkendzior and I discuss how we all need to be vigilant of @IvankaTrump trying to become president. Ivanka closing down her company can be seen as an ominous step in this direction. https://t.co/zBHSn7KtF3 pic.twitter.com/73zG42F3KR
— Andrea Chalupa (@AndreaChalupa) 24 июля 2018 г.
All she's doing is slapping the Adrienne Vittadini label on them. She'll still make money.
— HyrrokinAura (@WlfInChpClthng) 24 июля 2018 г.
Others indulged in speculation over President Trump's tariffs on China-manufacture goods, with some posting hilarious memes on the subject:
— BBBB Snarky Sharky 🇺🇸 (@BeBe_2008) 24 июля 2018 г.
BRRAKING NOW
— Shawn in Az 🖖🏽🌵 (@CaptainsLog2O18) 24 июля 2018 г.
Ivanka Trump brand is shutting down
Not for conflicts of interest, or ethics, for incredibly poor sales!
But no worries, hakuna matata
Not be one American job will be lost as all of her crapola was made over seas
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming pic.twitter.com/mJByqmAPcB
All she's doing is slapping the Adrienne Vittadini label on them. She'll still make money.
— HyrrokinAura (@WlfInChpClthng) 24 июля 2018 г.
Some said there is no need to worry, citing President Trump's personal business experience:
Ivanka Trump business not doing well.
— ✈️💙Cameron🧡🗽 (@c5127a5418m) 24 июля 2018 г.
This is nothing new to people who don’t drink koo laid
Donald Trump went bankrupt 5 times, multiple business deals failed/blocked, and the league he tries to control the NFL blocked himZ
Donald Trump is Hood Rich.
He fronting 🤥
Many users dwelled on business-client relationships, stating that the company must have hit a roadblock due to no demand and not because of Ivanka's political ambitions.
Ivanka Trump is closing down her fashion brand, says @WSJ. The line, which drew criticism over potential conflicts of interest, has been reduced or dropped entirely by U.S. and Canada retailers because of boycotts and poor sales. pic.twitter.com/XraMwBSEYX
— AJ+ (@ajplus) 24 июля 2018 г.
Ivanka Trump closing her fashion line because of consumers boycotting her products which ultimately led to major retailers dropping her is proof that actions & hate speech have consequences. Continue with the Trump boycotts, hit their pockets.
— Simar (@sahluwal) 24 июля 2018 г.
Twitterians en masse speculated about Ivanka's clothing line being increasingly politicized during her father's election campaign, urging the "girl" to come up with a backup plan, just in case:
Ivanka Trump’s statement on her fashion line shutting down: "My focus for the foreseeable future will be the work I am doing here in Washington.”
— Ryan Knight 🌊 (@ProudResister) 24 июля 2018 г.
The foreseeable future is brief. Daddy is going to be impeached in 2019. You better have a backup plan @IvankaTrump.
Some went still further, claiming that the reason for the closedown lies in a "dynastic kleptocracy," which the president is trying to build; and his family's business decisions "should be viewed in that context."
The Trump’s are trying to create a political dynasty to ensure they remain wealthy off the backs of taxpayers. They desire wealth and power only and are using the Presidency to that end. It’s been quite obvious from the beginning that was their intent.
— Jessica Collins (@JHCollins7) 24 июля 2018 г.
In April 2017, I warned that Trump was trying to create a dynastic kleptocracy, positioning Ivanka and Jared as successors. Her business decisions should be viewed in that context. https://t.co/FlaTsqvg3u pic.twitter.com/B2OpEXoLzw
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) 24 июля 2018 г.
One Twitter user stated that Ivanka's move is not enough, referring to the multiple businesses the Trump and Kushner families own.
Ivanka Trump is walking away from her clothing company, but it's going to take more than that to launder the rest of her family's dirty laundry.
— Brandon Besserer (@BrandonBesserer) 24 июля 2018 г.
The idea of arrests and punishment is also recurrent on the social media platform, especially among Democratic supporters. One user even managed to put this together with Ivanka's vocation (until recently):
Perhaps @IvankaTrump is shutting her brand down because her 'FECKLESS-FOR-FALL' Line clashed too much with TREASON… pic.twitter.com/K7T05X4tmg
— A L Katz (@boyndog) 24 июля 2018 г.
Well she still has these and the kidnapped children to make them. pic.twitter.com/V0ln9xelw4
— Got3boys (@signorex3) 24 июля 2018 г.
Ivanka Trump formally took on the role of Special Assistant to the President in March of 2017 as an unpaid federal employee.
Before March 2017, she had been working at the White House unofficially, which did not require her to comply with ethics and disclosures that apply to employees.
