"I have never politicized that message [of female empowerment]," she said.
Ivanka Trump has addressed the calls for a boycott of her clothing line for the first time, saying her father's campaign should not distract from the message of her own business.
Read: Melania Trump Denounces Husband's Sexual Assault Accusers: "Very Damaging and Unfair'
She told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos: “The beauty of America is people can do what they like. I prefer to talk to the millions, tens of millions, who are inspired by the brand and the message I have created."
She added: "My advocacy of trying to empower them in all aspects of their lives started long before this presidential campaign.
“I have never politicized that message. People who are seeking to politicize it because they may disagree with the politics of my father. There is nothing I can do to change that.”
Since the leak of her father’s 2005 comments to Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush — where Trump discusses grabbing women by their private parts — women have been calling for department stores to stop selling Ivanka Trump’s clothing line.
The hashtag #GrabYourWallets has gone viral with shoppers posting on social media that they will not be shopping at certain stores until Trump’s line comes off the shelves.
#GrabYourWallet #Marshall's
— Leticia Villarreal (@buildalunchbox) October 24, 2016
I love shopping at you store .
I won't return until you stop selling Trump's brand. pic.twitter.com/L6LkHqiI3I
#GrabyourWallets, #grabyourwallet, I CAN avoid Nordstrom, Dillard's, Macy's, etc. this holiday season. No Trump line loving businesses 4 me.
— Kristie Rabago (@KristieRabago) October 23, 2016
Dear @Macys @Nordstrom,@amazon, @lordandtaylor , @marshalls & @Zippo stop selling them. Pull the Trumps brand #GrabyourWallets
— Alik (@alik_rainey) October 26, 2016
During Thursday’s interview with Stephanopoulos, the ABC anchor also spoke to GOP presidential candidate’s eldest children about the Trump brand.
Eric, 32, said: "We have the hottest brand in the world right now."
Trump himself, interjected, saying: “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 and fixing in this country.”
Read: Dirty Bathrobe at Trump's New Hotel Not Washed Between Guests, Investigation Finds
His daughter, Tiffany, 22, said she is not involved in the family business yet, since she just graduated college, and plans to attend law school to “bring a different kind of skill set to the company.”
Donald Jr., 38, who has hinted at running for mayor of New York City, was coy about his own political career, saying his main goal presently is to get his father elected president.
Trump’s oldest children have all been given senior vice president roles of the Trump Organization and plan to run the company together should their father be elected president.
Watch: President Obama Laughs Off Trump, Reads Mean Tweets on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'
