There is not a lot of women asked to be a keynote speaker at the highly-attended consumer electronics trade show CES in Las Vegas. This year, however, CES 2020 decided to invite Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump, as its keynote speaker but the reactions from the attendees have been quite mixed.
One tech commentator said in a tweet that having Ivanka was a terrible choice. Rachel Sklar wrote that this was an insult to the many women who had protested for many years over the lack of female speakers when there were so many other great and qualified women to choose from.
Sklar's post was seconded by other potential attendees who questioned the First Daughter's appointment. They said that Ivanka had not done anything substantial for the technology industry and consumer electronics trade to merit the role of keynote speaker. Some further said that they might just boycott the event.
They want a female keynote speaker whose background fits the industry it is serving to inspire the others. Instead, the organizers have chosen someone as a political move.
According to reports, Ivanka will actually join a discussion at CES featuring Gary Shapiro of CTA. The firm is responsible for producing CES, the largest consumer electronic trade event in the world.
In accepting her job as a keynote speaker, Ivanka said that there would be a substantial discussion on what the Trump government is doing, with the help of private sectors and leaders of the tech industry. Ivanka will detail how the government is ensuring that American workers and students are fully equipped to thrive in today's digital landscape.
Meanwhile, according to Variety, CTA might have given Ivanka the key role for CES 2020 because it has been lobbying for the current administration to soften its stance against its trade policies with China. The tariff imposed on Chinese imports is apparently going to affect business in America. The president is due to sign another trade deal with China by Jan. 15.
In August, Shapiro said in a statement that the president might be right to protect America's interest against the Chinese. However, the tariffs are absorbed by the Americans and could be putting the country in the "wrong economic path."
CES 2020 will take place in Las Vegas on Jan. 7 at the Venetian's Palazzo Ballroom. Specifically, Ivanka will discuss "employer-led strategies to reskill workers, create apprenticeships, and develop K-12 STEM education programs."
