Transcript: George Stephanopoulos Interviews Trump Family
— -- This is a transcript of ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos’ interview with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his children: Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump, on October 26, 2016.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: This is really a question for everybody, but it's based on something you said when you were a teenager. You said that your father's legacy is your legacy. How has that changed over the course of this campaign?
IVANKA TRUMP: Well, we're very proud of our father and what he's accomplished. It is amazing. I've been joking for a while that when we started even just this project, we said Trump was coming to Pennsylvania Avenue. And we didn't even know at the time what exactly that meant. (LAUGH) Or--
DONALD TRUMP, JR.: One way or the other.
IVANKA TRUMP: --how (LAUGH) foreshadowing-- a statement that would be.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And we've seen all of you out there all year long. Don, there's a lotta talk about the possibility of you running for office yourself. Has this made it more likely or less likely?
DONALD TRUMP, JR.: It's a tough process, it's a brutal process, but there is also that element that's just amazing to be able to touch someone that way. And I've seen my father doing that. So I don't know, my only mission is to get him there because I know he can make a difference.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And-- and-- and all three of you-- you're not in the family business yet, you're still studying--
TIFFANY TRUMP: No, I just--
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: --for the--
TIFFANY TRUMP: --graduated (LAUGH) in May, so.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Yeah, so are you interested?
TIFFANY TRUMP: Of course, I'm interested. I think-- I'm applying to law school though so I like to bring-- a different kinda skill set to the company.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: All three of you are senior vice presidents of The Trump Organization. So I wanna ask you guys g-- a question I asked your dad just a second-- ago. There have been several stories recently suggesting that your brand has taken a hit over the course of this campaign. How worried are you about that? What are you gonna do about it?
ERIC TRUMP: I think we have the hottest brand in the world right now. And I think buildings like this are a testament to what we do every day.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Some of these studies are showing, less foot traffic in some of the businesses. There's one, I guess, apartment in New York trying to get the Trump name off the building on Riverside drive.
DONALD TRUMP, JR.: Oh, so I think the brand is much more than New York City, right? This is a global brand. I mean, when you look at the people that he's touching on a daily basis, the presidency, fixing America is so much bigger than any of that, regardless.
DONALD TRUMP: I think the brand is hotter than it's ever been. But it doesn't matter to me. I don't care. It doesn't matter. I don't care about the brand. I care about the country.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Ivanka, you've got your own business and I wonder what you say to the women who've started this Grab Your Wallet-- campaign on Twitter to boycott your collection. How does that make you feel, and-- and what do you wanna say to those women who are doing it?
IVANKA TRUMP: Well, the beauty of America is people can do what they like. But I'd prefer to talk to the millions, tens of millions of American women who are inspired by the brand and the message that I've created.
My advocacy of women, trying to empower them at all aspects of their life started long before this presidential campaign did. I've never politicized that message. People who are seeking to politicize it because they may disagree with the politics of my father, there's nothing I can do to change that.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And-- and all of you, you're gonna stick with the business even if your dad wins? (LAUGH)
DONALD TRUMP, JR.: It's what-- what we do. We're-- we're-- we're-- we're builders. Yeah, it's-- it's been-- awesome to be a small cog in the wheel.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay, be honest. Which one of you predicted you all would be here today this close to the election?
IVANKA TRUMP: I don't think any of us got that far ahead of ourselves when he first announced his candidacy. We're not a political family. I think we were attempting to understand real-time what that meant in terms of our future and our lives. In retrospect, I don't think any of us would tell you we're surprised.
I've never in the past seen him fail. And-- and this is obviously on-- on another level in terms of his commitment to this country and its people.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You're surprised?
DONALD TRUMP: Well, I guess-- you know, a lotta people are surprised in terms of the press, et cetera. But I think probably I wouldn't have done it if I didn't I could win. You know, if I thought I was gonna be knocked out nine people ago, I would've probably said, "I won't do it." So-- I can't say I'm surprised.
It's really about making America great again. That's what it's about. That's why I'm doing this.