Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump’s oldest daughter, got a lot of attention on X (now Twitter) for a quietly funny movie on what it was like for the Trump family to live in the White House. The short video, which lasts less than a minute, shows her youngest child, Theodore “Theo” Kushner, spending time alone with his grandfather. Politics and public appearances don’t important right now. What matters is the strong, universal link between a child and a loving grandma.
In one of the principal rooms of the White House, the video shows Theo, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner’s third kid sitting on a beautiful grand piano. The mood is calm and the light is gentle. Theo types with his little fingers while sitting up straight and looking wonderful. He plays a good, easy song. His emphasis is clear—not forced, but warm and sincere, like how kids act when they really like something. There is only a camera and a calm person watching, but the place feels huge and safe.
Donald Trump, who used to be president, is standing a few feet away with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. He doesn’t sound as strong and booming as he usually does. He is paying attentive attention in a calm way, like a grandfather who is having a great moment with his granddaughter. There was no speech or ceremony, just silence and a smile. He looks at Theo with a look of astonishment that many grandparents know well: the joy of witnessing your family live on through your grandkids and the thrill of seeing them grow up, even in the smallest ways.
Theo debuting his first original composition for Grandpa last night at The White House 🥰 pic.twitter.com/D6L4wQaH2V
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) April 29, 2025
When the former president is done, he walks over to Theo, lays his hand on Theo’s small shoulder, and says in a calm, beautiful voice, “You’re good.” You can tell how they feel even though they don’t say anything. Trump doesn’t generally talk quietly like politicians do. It’s not how a leader talks to a crowd; it’s how a proud and maybe even a little teary-eyed grandfather talks to a crowd. Theo looks up with a little smile, clearly satisfied, and the camera stays on the scene long enough for the moment to settle in.
People on social media responded right away, and most of what they said was pleasant. People were interested in the message right away, not because it was about politics or a disagreement, but because they could relate to the human side of it. People who left comments on the video said they liked how real the situation was and how close the grandfather and grandson were. Many people liked seeing a prominent person who usually wears business suits on stage and at campaign rallies show a more personable and compassionate side. The video didn’t have anything like it. There were no headlines or slogans. In the video, a young child played the piano while their grandfather watched with pride.
It also made me think about how the media normally shows buildings like the White House as places of power and policy, but they are also where the individuals who work there live. The big halls and historic chambers aren’t just used for speeches and formal meetings for a short time.
People know that Ivanka Trump is careful about what she says about her family in public. She showed us how the family works and how a memory is being produced right now by choosing to share it. Theo will undoubtedly watch that DVD one day and see not just himself as a child playing the piano, but also how his grandfather looked at him in that short but dramatic moment—how proud, loving, and caring he was.
For a lot of people who viewed it, the movie was more than just a clip. It reminded them of how essential family is, how important it is to leave a legacy, and how to find little, meaningful moments in the heart of bigger, crazier worlds. People who didn’t know the Trump family could nevertheless connect with the movie. They could see how happy a child was to learn something new, how pleased an older person was to watch over them, and how nice it was to be near to someone without having to talk.
This event was different from the others not because it was important in politics, but because it was about individuals. It’s odd because most people appraise and define prominent personalities based on their jobs. Under the headlines and titles, there are still times of music, advice, and affection. A simple melody on the piano and a gentle touch on the shoulder are all it takes to tell the truth sometimes.
