Eric and Ivanka Trump, two of Republican president frontrunner Donald Trump’s four adult children, are not eligible to vote in New York’s presidential primary later this month.
Trump on Monday morning confirmed in an interview with Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” that they both failed to register in time to be eligible to vote in the April 19 primary, where Trump will square off with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich.
“They feel very, very guilty,” Trump said. When asked by the hosts of “Fox & Friends” if he was cutting off their allowances, he deadpanned: “No more allowance.”
Both Eric and Ivanka have been heavily involved in their father’s campaign, as strategic advisers and also appearing at a slew of events on the campaign trail. Ivanka in particular has been regarded as the “quiet power” behind the campaign, though she hasn’t been as actively involved in recent weeks due to the birth of her son in late March.
In a roughly 10-minute long interview with “Fox & Friends,” Trump also lamented the primary process in Colorado, where he lost badly to Cruz. But he refused to blame the registration process in New York for the failure of Eric and Ivanka to be able to vote, simply conceding that the rules are the rules.
He likely won’t need their votes. A Fox News poll over the weekend showed Trump has a commanding 54% of the vote in the Empire State, trailed by Kasich at 22% and Cruz at 15%. When asked about his prediction for his performance in his home state, Trump said “I think we are doing really well in New York.”
The “Fox & Friends” hosts also asked if Ivanka’s failure to register to vote in the primary would disqualify her as a potential VP nominee. Trump said that it wasn’t a factor, as he wouldn’t select his daughter for that position regardless.