White House aides resent Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and chief of staff John Kelly and other senior officials were reportedly infuriated that the president's daughter represented the U.S. in South Korea.
President Donald Trump's daughter and son-in-law occupy a unique position in the White House, where they serve as senior aides, and their dual roles has frustrated colleagues and drawn outside criticism, reported CNN.
Kelly has grown frustrated that Ivanka seems to swap roles between White House adviser and the president's daughter when it suits her needs, and the retired Marine Corps general has said privately that she's just "playing government."
The chief of staff has largely ignored her agenda and has shrugged off her child tax credit as a "pet project," according to a source.
Kelly was not happy that Ivanka was sent to the Olympic closing ceremonies as nuclear tensions with North Korea complicate American relations with South Korea, a source close to the president said.
"This isn't like going to Italy," the source told CNN. "The stakes are far higher and more complex."
Kelly privately complained about Ivanka traveling to the Korean Peninsula, but his allies reminded him that opposing her as the delegation's leader was a losing battle.
Ivanka oversaw a U.S. senator, the White House press secretary, the de facto ambassador in Seoul and several members of the U.S. military during the South Korean visit.
She was the honored guest for dinner at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, and even the menu was designed to favor her wishes.
The menu included "Korean food designed to be palatable for foreigners," CNN reported, with "grilled soft tofu with special marinade for Ivanka Trump" and "Kalbi grilled ribs for everyone else."
The president's daughter shared information about a new round of economic sanctions against North Korea during talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, which prompted questions about her access to classified information.
That's an issue that has dogged her husband and complicated his own relationship with Kelly.