Ivanka Endorsed A Senator Who "Jokes" About Public Hangings & Voter Suppression

After campaigning for a governor who signed into law one of the US's most restrictive anti-abortion laws, it's no wonder Ivanka Trump is all #GirlPower for another questionable female politician. Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith — who is in a runoff for her seat against Democrat Mike Espy and a huge ally of President Donald Trump — has also received glowing praise from the first daughter and presidential advisor. In one tweet, Ivanka thanked her for her "passionate advocacy" and leadership.

However, one side of Hyde-Smith that may not be as Instagrammable for Ivanka is her apparent affinity for public hangings and voter suppression. Recently, Hyde-Smith was caught on camera saying, “If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row,” after being praised by a cattle rancher at a campaign event. Hyde-Smith, who is running against a Black opponent in the state that has had the most lynchings, has refused to apologise for the comments, saying it was all just a joke.

Determined to continue saying questionable things on camera, Hyde-Smith also mused that it's a "great idea" to make voting "a little more difficult" for people with liberal political leanings. Of course, Hyde-Smith's campaign said these comments were also in jest. (Maybe she should consider a career in standup, too?) It's rumoured that President Trump is going to be holding a rally for Hyde-Smith in a last-ditch effort to energise the base before the runoff vote and maybe distract people from the fact that there is currently a petition calling for her removal or resignation from office.

Predictably, Ivanka has not commented on Hyde-Smith's jokes. As evidence through her tenure in the White House, she has a knack for selectively choosing the parts of feminism and social justice she supports, while putting on millennial-pink-tinted glasses for the rest of it.