'This doesn't happen often': Ivanka Trump gets emotional speaking about 'Babi'

In a personal and emotional moment, Ivanka Trump had to ask 'The Diary of a CEO' host Steven Bartlett for tissues as she struggled to hold back tears. In a rare interview, the 44-year-old daughter of President Donald Trump and his first wife, Ivana, spoke candidly about growing up in the Trump household. During the 96-minute interview, Ivanka shared a personal perspective on her journey, including navigating politics, the sudden death of her mother, her parents' divorce, and her relationship with her father.

Ivanka started the interview by describing how she had to always keep her guard up, which "served her well for a really long time," before she said she learned that the purpose of life is the expansion, not the contraction, of the heart. "I've learned more and more that those walls, they don't serve you, and the only way to have a connection, which is so fundamental to the human experience, is to build it, and that requires trust," Ivanka said. As she recalled growing up shielded by her parents from much media attention and scrutiny, sometimes unavoidable, she was presented with a picture of herself when she was 9. With an immediate smile, Ivanka said the first thing that the picture reminded her of was her daughter. 

As she took a trip down memory lane, Ivanka spoke about her maternal grandmother, 'Babi' (Marie Zelníčková), who, along with her deceased grandfather, raised her and her brothers. "My grandmother cooked every meal," she said. When Bartlett suggested that her grandmother probably "meant the world to her", Ivanka replied with an assertive "she does." "She is 98 years old, her health has suffered, and you know, it's been a little bit of a difficult time for her, but I feel so strongly for me and my children to have the experience to be there for her in just like a small fraction of the way that she was there for me. Such an extraordinary privilege, and for them to grow up with her at our table every single meal, each night," she said, "Her telling her stories and stories of my mother, who they sadly didn't get to know." Ivanka couldn't hold back her tears at this point. "I have a lot of love for this woman," she said, wiping a tear at the corner of her eye. "This doesn't happen to me often."

When Bartlett asks her about what mixture of emotions she was experiencing, Ivanka says, "She taught me so much just about love and...connection, and you know, it's been hard to see her now as she struggles. But she's a blessing to have her in our home, and living with us and...a very special person." After a heavy pause, Ivanka softly asked for a tissue. 'Babi' is living with Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, in their Florida residence.