US Government-funded website accused of promoting Ivanka Trump’s new book

Voice of America publishes article describing President's daughter graduating 'from sassy to serious' with self-help guide for working women

Ivanka Trump on a recent visit to Berlin, Germany (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A website funded by the US government has been accused of using taxpayers' money to promote Ivanka Trump’s new book.

Voice of America (VOA), the country’s official external broadcasting operation, posted an article to its website and Twitter feed with the caption: “In New Book, Ivanka Trump Gets Serious About Women at Work.”

The piece, written by the Associated Press, claims the first daughter's new book “offers earnest advice for women on advancing in the workplace, balancing family and professional life and seeking personal fulfilment.”

Despite proceeds from the novel, titled: "Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success", reportedly going to charity, many have been quick to highlight how the piece serves as a form of promotion of Ms Trump's commercial interests.

Ms Trump announced she would be cancelling her book tour and not making any media appearances “out of an abundance of caution and to avoid the appearance of using my official role to promote the book.”

However, many argue VOA's publishing of the article has generated Government-endorsed publicity.

This is not the first time Ms Trump has courted controversy over her business interests.

In February, Mr Trump’s former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway weighed in on the Nordstrom department store’s decision to stop selling Ivanka-Trump branded products.

"Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would say," she told interviewers on the Fox & Friends TV programme. "It's a wonderful line."

She claimed Ms Trump was being targeted by people who disliked her father, saying: “They’re using her to get to him.”

Mr Trump also attacked the decision by the retailer, rushing to the defence of his daughter on Twitter. White House press secretary Sean Spicer called the department store’s decision to stop selling some of her merchandise a “direct attack” on the President.

Ms Trump’s behind the scenes role at the White House was made official in March when it was announced she would serve as an unpaid special assistant to her father.