Fact Check: In 1993, Trump asked, "Is it wrong to be more sexually attractedto your own daughter than your wife?" At the time, Ivanka was 13 years old.

Fact-Check Article: Did Donald Trump Make This Controversial Statement About Ivanka?

What We Know

The claim that Donald Trump asked, "Is it wrong to be more sexually attracted to your own daughter than your wife?" in reference to his daughter Ivanka, who was 13 at the time, has circulated widely online. This quote is attributed to an early draft of a column by Richard Cohen in The Washington Post, which was written in 2016 but never published in its final form. According to BuzzFeed News, the quote appeared in a draft that was sent to syndication outlets but was removed before the column was officially published on November 21, 2016.

The BuzzFeed News article cites an unnamed source who claimed to have seen the draft, but it does not confirm that any journalist from BuzzFeed reviewed the unpublished draft themselves. The final version of Cohen's column, titled "Our Next President, the Godfather," does not include the controversial quote, which raises questions about its authenticity (Snopes).

Additionally, Ivanka Trump was born on October 30, 1981, meaning she turned 13 in 1994, not 1993 as the meme claims. The alleged statement would have been made in either 1994 or 1995, during Trump's second marriage to Marla Maples (Snopes, BuzzFeed News).

Analysis

The primary source of the quote is an early draft of a Washington Post column, which was later edited to remove the statement. This raises significant concerns about the reliability of the claim. The fact that it was not included in the final published version suggests that the editors may have found it inappropriate or unverifiable. The reliance on an unnamed source further complicates the matter, as it does not provide a direct attribution to Trump himself (BuzzFeed News).

Moreover, while Trump has made other controversial remarks about Ivanka, such as stating he would date her if she weren't his daughter (Elite Daily), the specific quote in question lacks corroborative evidence. The context of the statement, as reported, involves a private conversation that was not recorded, making it difficult to verify its authenticity (Snopes, BuzzFeed News).

The sources discussing Trump's past comments about Ivanka, including Cosmopolitan and Elite Daily, acknowledge that he has made numerous uncomfortable remarks, but these do not serve as direct evidence for the specific claim being evaluated (Elite Daily, BuzzFeed News).

Conclusion

The claim that Donald Trump asked if it is wrong to be more sexually attracted to his daughter than his wife remains Unverified. The quote's origin is tied to an unpublished draft of a column, and there is no direct evidence that Trump made this statement in a verifiable context. Without further corroboration from reliable sources, it is impossible to confirm the authenticity of this claim. The lack of a published record and reliance on an unnamed source diminishes its credibility.

Sources

1. No Proof Trump Asked If It's Wrong To Be More Sexually ...
2. Did Donald Trump say this about his daughter and wife?
3. These Donald Trump Quotes About Ivanka Are Super Uncomfortable
4. Draft Washington Post Column Claimed Trump Said He Was ...
5. Fact Check: It's True Trump Once Said He Would Date Ivanka If ...
6. Watch: Donald Trump’s Uncomfortable History of Sexual ... - BET
7. Draft of Washington Post Column Claimed Trump Once Said H...