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Election 2020

Remember Ivanka Trump’s Pet ‘Food Box’ Project? Turns Out it Was Just a Big Grift Used for Political Gain

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Perhaps the biggest thing we’ve learned about Donald Trump and his family it’s that they can grift with the best of them. Especially Ivanka Trump, who has finessed grifting into a science. There was, after all, that one pet project of hers, where she gave out food to hungry people in the midst of the pandemic.

But, unsurprisingly, a new report by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis finds this was little more than a trainwreck of a PR stunt that lined the pockets of completely unqualified contractors with, according to Queerty, with “millions and millions (and millions)” of dollars. What’s even worse, is the sole reason for this was to boost Donald Trump’s reelection chances.

Is anyone remotely surprised by this?

And Ivanka sure loved to take credit for the Farmers to Families program, even though it was created by the Department of Agriculture as a way to donate leftover food to starving families, whose lives were destroyed by COVID-19. Food that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Daddy’s little princess (sorry Tiffany) unveiled the program in May 2020, who noted “I’m not shy about asking people to step up to the plate.” The food boxes included fresh produce, cooked meats, milk, and other dairy products, right along with a signed letter from dear old dad, Donald Trump.

Since Ivanka loves nothing more than promoting herself, she, of course, did plenty of that, posting photos and videos of herself handing boxes of food in church parking lots and bragging about her altruism.

As good as all this may sound, it was as fake as dear old dad’s hair.

The committee spent nearly a year investigating and found the program was largely a “complete sh*tshow behind the scenes,” per Queerty. What it also found is that the Trump administration didn’t even screen contractors properly and that Ivanka herself dreamed up the letter signed by her father as a way to help him get reelected.

We can all be glad that last one backfired.

If you’re wondering how extensive the grift was, as well as how shoddy the whole thing was, well, here’s how much of it went down.

  • One company that called itself CRE8AD8 LLC (pronounced “Create A Date”) received a $39 million contract. Even though this company has nothing to do with feeding hungry families. Nope. Not even. It’s a wedding planning firm that specializes in “putting tchotchkes in a bag.”

The company’s CEO became huffy when asked for comment, saying “We delivered far more boxes/pounds than many other contractors, and as a for-profit company we’re allowed to make a profit.” What a lovely sentiment. I certainly hope all those starving families appreciated those “tchotchkes.” Probably more satisfying than a full belly I’m sure.

  • The avocado grower who was awarded a $40 million contract even though he scribbled “I don’t have any” in the part of his application that asked for references. That contract was canceled, fortunately.

The committee also found Ivanka indeed, was the brain behind dear old dad’s signed letter in each box.

As part of this, the USDA told contractors it was mandatory to include the letter. This didn’t sit well with food bank operators who were concerned this would make the program appear political when it was supposed to be about feeding starving people as the pandemic raged.

Not only that but Donald Trump even ordered then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to discuss the program at the Republican National Convention in 2020. A federal ethics office later found that was in violation of a federal law that prohibits officials from using their office for campaign purposes.

Subcommittee chair Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) in a blistering statement blasted the incompetent management of the program and said this is just another example of the previous administration’s “multitude of failures,” per Queerty.

“The program was marred by a structure that prioritized industry over families, by contracting practices that prioritized cutting corners over competence, and by decisions that prioritized politics over the public good.”

He pretty much nailed it, I’d say. And those of us based in reality would probably not equate the Trump administration with competence.

Megan Hamilton
meet the author

Megan has lived in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida and she currently lives in Central America. Living in these places has informed her writing on politics, science, and history. She is currently owned by 15 cats and 3 dogs and regularly owns Trump supporters when she has the opportunity. She can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GaiaLibra and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/politicalsaurus

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