Two ultra-famous women walk into the Met Gala and walk out with a friendship that somehow outlives tabloid news tsunamis, wardrobe changes, and entire app trends. Kim Kardashian and Ivanka Trump might seem like characters in a bad joke about America’s elite, but the bond is real. They’re both moms, both headline magnets, and both determined to be known for more than a last name and a great selfie angle.
Their connection has zigzagged through some truly chaotic years. Here’s how it started, what survived, and why they keep showing up for each other.
Met Gala Meet-Cute Origins
Guess who met for the first time at the 2014 Met Gala? These two “new moms” started chatting amid chandeliers and gold-stitched gowns. They were already living in the elite class, enjoying private jets, facing public scrutiny, and maintaining a professional relationship with under-eye concealer. Flash forward, and the kid count multiplied: Arabella gave birth to Joseph and Theo, and North got promoted to big sis for Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. In other words, there was plenty to discuss besides playdates, homework, and the eternal question of who hid the iPad.
Before the Gala: Trump Universe Crossovers
Did you know that Kim’s ties to the Trumps predate the gala? In 2010, she popped up on The Apprentice to hype a fragrance launch. Years later, the former reality tycoon was in the White House, while Kim was studying law and pushing hard for criminal justice reform. She advocated for commutations and drew national attention to nonviolent offenders. The partnership had speed bumps, though, as Kim reportedly wanted more pardons as the administration ended. Disagreements followed, and online jabs flew from every direction, but Ivanka stayed away from the crossfire, which saved their friendship.
Parallel Projects: “More Than a Headline”
Despite wildly different brands, both women keep trying to expand their résumés beyond just being pretty and famous. Kim dove into legal apprenticeship and policy conversations around prison reform. Ivanka co-founded Planet Harvest, a food-rescue effort channeling surplus from farms to families and companies that can distribute it. Sadly, Kim was operating in Los Angeles, while Ivanka’s turf was in Palm Beach. Still, texts and occasional dinners bridged that gap. It’s less “wanna grab a slice?” and more “see you at this gala-fundraiser-event-thing with 48 camera angles.”
The Kanye-Sized Elephant in the Room
The toughest test of their friendship was Kanye West. After Kim filed for divorce in 2021, Ye’s 2022 Fox News comments slammed Jared Kushner, and a subsequent antisemitic tweet set off alarms (especially painful given Ivanka’s Jewish heritage). This right here could have been a friendship-ending moment. Instead, the pair were photographed leaving a long LA dinner soon after. Kim then publicly condemned hate speech and voiced support for the Jewish community. Friendship saved!
Soft Power, Hard Schedules
Do they send each other memes? Probably. Do they share a seating chart? Oh, most definitely. From Beverly Hills birthdays (Ivanka sat right next to the guest of honor at Kim’s 43rd, as seen on The Kardashians) to ultra-fancy European weddings, they show up. When October rolls around, the mutual birthday love is inevitable. Kim’s B-day is on the 21st, and Ivanka’s on the 30th, so you can imagine all the throwback photos and gushy stories they’re sharing with each other on these days.
Why Their Friendship Is Weirdly Relatable
Strip away the money, fame, and power, and you’ve got two working moms balancing PR fires, co-parenting logistics, and a desire to be taken seriously in rooms that usually laugh at people without a beard and a bald spot. They’ve both been caricatured, and both keep trying to write their own scripts. Friendship, in this context, becomes a strategy and a safe space for them to vent. They’ve each found a person who understands the stakes, the subtle jabs in the headlines, and will not leave the other side on read.
Are They Cool Still?
After politics, divorces, and hundreds of headlines that would make most of us rent an RV and disappear, Kim and Ivanka are still going out to get food, sharing tables, and swapping birthday presents. While they may not be the closest friends, they are two public figures who have managed to maintain a stable relationship despite the constant changes in their lives.