Ivanka Trump: Corker had ‘real integrity’ during tax negotiations

Ivanka Trump, first daughter and senior adviser to President Trump, on Thursday praised Sen. Bob Corker (R) for his work on the GOP tax bill, saying the Tennessee lawmaker “had real integrity.”

“I spent a lot of time with Sen. Corker as well. And he had real integrity around this process. I will say that for sure. He had his concerns for sure. He felt his concerns were adequately addressed,” Ivanka Trump told “Fox & Friends.”{mosads}

“And he really believes that tax relief coupled with the administration deregulatory actions will create the growth that will start to erode and ultimately eliminate the national debt that has been incurred over the last several decades.”

Corker, who voted against the original tax legislation, lauded Ivanka Trump during his own interview with Fox earlier Thursday morning. The senator said she played a “big role” in the process and “deserves a lot of credit for what has happened.”

The mutual admiration between the two is a stark contrast from Corker’s relationship with Ivanka Trump’s father. The president and Corker have publicly feuded on Twitter in in the past.

Ivanka Trump also denied that Corker, during her time working with him on the GOP tax bill, pushed for a provision that has become known as the “Corker kickback.”

“Not to me. No. Absolutely not,” she told Fox when asked about the provision, which the International Business Times reported would benefit individuals like the president and Corker who have investments in real estate.

Corker in his Fox interview said he was unaware of the provision, which he added came from the House side.

“I’ve never ever in my life used the word ‘fake news’ until today,” Corker told “Fox & Friends.” “I actually understand what it is the president has been dealing with.”

Corker, a deficit hawk, came under scrutiny for supporting the bill after the International Business Times report, with critics invoking the hashtag #CorkerKickback on social media.