Ivanka Trump defends Goya post that watchdogs call unethical

July 15, 2020 5:26 pm

AP,

Ivanka Trump Ethics 90206 — This image taken from Ivanka Trump's Twitter account shows her holding a can of Goya beans along with the words "If it's Goya, it has to be good" written in English and Spanish. Ivanka Trump is defending the tweet as a show of support for a company she says has been unfairly treated after Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue praised her father, President Donald Trump, at the White House on July 9, 2020. Government watchdog groups say she violated federal regulations barring government officials from promoting specific products. (Ivanka Trump's Twitter page via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) – Ivanka Trump is defending her decision to tweet a photo of herself holding up a can of Goya beans.

President Donald Trump’s daughter and White House adviser said Wednesday that she has “every right” to express her support for the company, whose CEO praised the president at a recent White House event.

Government watchdog groups counter that Ivanka Trump doesn’t have the right to violate ethics rules that bar government officials from using their public office to promote specific products.

The White House would be responsible for disciplining Ivanka Trump for any ethics violation but chose not to in a similar case involving White House counselor Kellyanne Conway in 2017.