Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump reportedly put relationship on hold due to their parents' campaigns

It's officially the most awkward almost-friendship in US politics.

As Donald Trump prepares to take on Hillary Clinton as the likely nominees for their respective parties in the race for the White House, their daughters have decided to put their nascent friendship on ice, according to reports.

Sources close to Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump say the high-profile and politically savvy pair have made a decision not to appear in public together during what is expected to be a gruelling and grubby campaign.

While the pair are not exactly best friends, they are thought to move in the same social circles in New York and have been spotted embracing on the red carpet before.

A source close to Ivanka recently told the New York Post: "They basically have to put their friendship on pause because their parents are ripping each other to shreds.

"The hard part is that Chelsea and Ivanka were friends."

Politico said the pair have opted not to be seen together since long before Ted Cruz threw in the towel on the race making Trump the presumptive Republican nominees.

The polarising billionaire has already slammed Clinton for playing the "women's card" and said she got "schlonged" by Obama in 2008, in what is expected to be just a taste of the sledging to come once the race begins in earnest.

Despite the political differences of their parents Chelsea and Ivanka share a number of similarities and have spoken warmly of each other in the past.

Chelsea told Vogue Ivanka reminded her of her famously charismatic father Bill, for a profile the magazine ran on Trump's daughter.

"She's always aware of everyone around her and ensuring that everyone is enjoying the moment," she said.

"It's an awareness that in some ways reminds me of my dad, and his ability to increase the joy of the room.

"There's nothing skin-deep about Ivanka. And I think that's a real tribute to her because certainly anyone as gorgeous as she is could have probably gone quite far being skin-deep."

One associate of the pair who wanted to remain anonymous has previously said they "genuinely relate" to one another and tend to run in the same New York circles.

Both have grown up in high-profile families that have endured sex scandals in the public eye. They have since both become parents and devoted themselves to their family's work - Chelsea, 36, at the Clinton Foundation and Ivanka, 34, at the Trump organisation.