Choosing an awkward time to exhibit what a NBC spokesperson later insisted was only his seldom seen sense of humor, The Apprentice star Donald Trump joked about dating Ivanka Trump, his 24-year-old daughter, during the pair's Monday appearance on The View.
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"I don't think Ivanka would do that -- although she does have a very nice figure. I've said if Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her," the 59-year-old billionaire added in comment that drew laughs from the show's studio audience.
"Who are you, Woody Allen?" The View co-host Joy Behar, in a reference to Allen's controversial relationship with Soon-Yi Previn (the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow, Allen's former lover of many years), responded.
Ivanka, a Trump Organization vice president and former model, was appearing on the ABC daytime show to promote her five-episode appearance as a replacement for regular Apprentice advisor Carolyn Kepcher.
Later, NBC representative Jim Dowd told The Associated Press that Trump "was absolutely joking." "He was making fun of himself for his tendency to date younger women," explained Dowd. "It’s a sense of humor that people don't see (from him) all the time."
Twice divorced, Trump married 35-year-old model Melania Knauss in January 2005. The couple is expecting their first child this spring. In addition to 24-year-old Ivanka, Trump also has two sons (28-year-old Donald Jr. -- who will also be appearing on this season's The Apprentice -- and 22-year-old Eric) from his fifteen year first marriage to Ivana Zelnickova. Trump also has another daughter, 12-year-old Tiffany, from his six year marriage to second wife Marla Maples.
