Sen. Tim Scott praises Ivanka Trump for 'strong, powerful backbone' at Greenville event

Ivanka Trump, the oldest daughter of President Donald Trump, was warmly praised Friday during a visit to Greenville that also sparked a protest.

Speaking in a ballroom packed with friendly audience at the Westin Poinsett Hotel, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott hailed Ivanka Trump for her efforts to double the child tax credit in a recently approved tax overhaul.

“Ivanka has a strong, powerful backbone that helped us to get to $2,000 on the child tax credit,” said Scott, a Republican from North Charleston who worked closely with her on the tax-reform process.

Ivanka Trump joined Scott as more than 100 women and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, both of South Carolina, gathered for the downtown event.

Trump said the recently approved tax bill has a two-fold purpose.

“We wanted to cut corporate taxes so our businesses could compete and could thrive, but we also wanted to ensure middle-income tax relief," she said. “We cut trillions of dollars' worth of loopholes that benefited special-interest groups, and we gave that money back to American workers and American families where it belongs.”

Women invited by Scott's staff started arriving at the event about an hour before it began.

Greer resident Susan Kines, who owns an advertising agency, said she hoped Ivanka Trump or Scott would discuss the federal government's mounting debt.

"I am very interested and concerned about the financial health of our country,” she said.

“That was one of the things that candidate Trump talked about, and I’ve not heard many people talk about it," said Kines, who added that she voted for President Trump because "he understands how money works."

Federal debt was not discussed at Friday's event.

About a dozen members of the Upstate Republican Women organization attended.

One of the group's members, Mary Vause of Greenville, said she wanted to show support for President Trump and his family.

“I think they are a very special family," she said. "I really admire everything that Trump is doing for our country.”

Vause said it must be difficult for Ivanka Trump to hear some of the "ugly" things that are said about her father.

“I think that is uncalled for and it shouldn’t be part of our culture," she said.

Cheryl Teague Cuthrell, the president of Upstate Republican Women and chairwoman of the Anderson County Republican Party, also attended.

“We are very excited about the tax breaks. We are very excited about a lot of $1,000 bonuses going to people who need it,” she said.

She said she supported the increase in the child-tax credit that Scott and Ivanka Trump worked to pass.

“They are going to be helping lower-income parents get child care. I would prefer to be paying for childcare than paying for welfare," Cuthrell said. "Right now it does not pay for some women to work because childcare expenses are so high.”

Cuthrell said after the event that Ivanka Trump "did a great job."

“Even though she has lived in such privilege, I think they really do understand what the working people are going through,” Cuthrell said.

Style Watch: Ivanka Trump's Greenville appearance: Classic and elegant

Ivanka Trump, a senior White House adviser, arrived on a commercial flight about 10 a.m. Friday at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

"She was always smiling and very pleasant," Angela Martinez said after sitting behind the president's daughter on the flight.

Trump stopped at Coffee Underground, a popular downtown coffee shop, before her speaking engagement.

People swarmed her to take pictures outside of Frank's Gentleman's Salon. Wearing a tan blazer, black pants and black shirt, she posed for pictures before leaving in a limo.

A couple of people waited for her outside of the Westin Poinsett around lunchtime. They were disappointed to learn she entered the hotel through a back entrance. There was a notable police presence in the area, including Police Chief Ken Miller.

Police and Secret Service were stationed at nearly every corner of the lobby and mezzanine levels of the hotel.

An organization protested Ivanka Trump's visit on the plaza outside of the hotel. The protesters voiced their views on a number of issues ranging from tax reform to immigration.

At one point a female Trump supporter and a man exchanged words.

"I support Trump," Sherry Riddle said. "We work downtown. We came in to see her. The same protesters are here every Tuesday."

More: Ivanka Trump should listen to all women, not just 'elite,' Greenville protesters say

Inside the hotel, Ivanka Trump said she enjoyed coming to Greenville and wants to return with her husband and their three young children.

Scott and Ivanka Trump fielded questions that were submitted before the event by audience members.

The first question came from 18-year-old Jennings Bryson, who will receive both a high school diploma and an associate degree when she graduates this spring from Greenville Technical Charter High School. She asked what federal officials are doing to foster an "early college" approach at other high schools across the nation.

Ivanka Trump said Bryson's academic achievements are "a model that we want to spread across the country."

“You are amazing," Ivanka Trump told Bryson. "You should come visit us in Washington.”

Trump said the recently passed tax bill will enhance school choice by allowing parents to deposit up to $10,000 annually in tax-deferred accounts that can be spent on their children's primary and secondary education. Previously, these accounts were only available for college tuition.

Responding to another question, Scott said more than 2 million private-sector employees have received bonuses or pay increases since Congress approved a package of tax cuts. Just this week, he said, Home Depot gave $200 to $1,000 bonuses to 400,000 employees and Starbucks announced it will spend $250 million on pay raises, stock options and expanded benefits for 170,000 employees.

Scott posed the last question of the day, asking how Ivanka Trump balances a demanding White House position with being a mother and wife.

"It is the greatest honor of my life to be able to serve this country which has given me so much and my family so much," she said. "It is truly a privilege."