Ivanka and Eric Trump become reliable defenders of their father
A constant in this topsy-turvy presidential election: Whenever Donald Trump gets in trouble, he often relies on his kids to help spin his way out of it.
Trump's older children - particularly Ivanka and Eric - have become some of his most reliable surrogates on the campaign trail, defending their father and helping to put a human face on the often incendiary mogul.
On Tuesday, Eric Trump was the one in the spotlight, appearing on CBS This Morning to explain his father's stance on the family of Capt. Humayun Kahn, a Muslim soldier who died while fighting in the Iraq War. The family has been engaged in a war of words with the GOP nominee since Kahn's parents appeared at last week's Democratic convention, and Republicans have criticized Trump for his rhetoric in the matter.
For his part, Eric took a much softer approach, backing up his father while still insisting his family is grateful for Kahn's sacrifice.
"I mean, you see anybody who dies for their nation, dies for the three of us at this table, made the ultimate sacrifice, but you know for my father, in terms of the Kahn family, it's not about a soldier -- who's an amazing guy. My father even said that during the interview, sounds like he's a really amazing guy," Eric Trump said.
Eric Trump also said his father's comments about a hypothetical in which Ivanka Trump was sexually harassed by an employer - Trump said he hoped she would find a new job - had been misinterpreted.
"I think what he's saying is, Ivanka is a strong, powerful woman, she wouldn't allow herself to be objected to it, and by the way, you should take it up with Human Resources, and I think she would as a strong person, at the same time, I don't think she would allow herself to be subjected to that. I think that's a point he was making, and I think he did so well," he said.
Some didn't find that argument so convincing. This is what Fox News' Megyn Kelly -- who has said she was subjected to sexual harassment by Roger Ailes, and who has been the target of some of Donald Trump's more venomous attacks -- had to say.
Of all Trump's children, it is likely Ivanka who has the highest profile. She was chosen to introduce him at the Republican convention in Cleveland, and has been her father's most dependable defender.
When The New York Times published a story questioning Donald Trump's behavior toward women, Ivanka Trump dismissed the charges.
"He was promoting women in development and construction at a time when it was unheard of. There was no trend towards equality in the real estate and construction industry back in the 1980s. And he was doing it because he believes ultimately in merit," she told CBS This Morning.
Ivanka Trump was also there when her father seemed to imply Fox News' Megyn Kelly was menstruating when she grilled him at the first Republican presidential debate last year.
"I can only speak to the experience I've had," she said when asked about the kerfuffle at a Fortune magazine event in October. "I'm a female executive at his company at the highest level. And I wouldn't be the person I am today if he didn't deeply believe in opportunity for women." She added that Donald Trump's feud with Kelly "didn't interest her much."