Donald Trump - A sort of American clan
Donald Trump (78) is many things: Ex-President and potential Republican contender for the upcoming US election, entrepreneur, media personality, and likely an underdog, at least in his own mind. He presents himself as one of them - as a true American, whose stories are more than just a hint of the rags-to-riches dream, which many seem to be fascinated by.
The Hard Life of Donald Trump
Trump wants to make America "great" again after his first term. The story of a supposedly disadvantaged boy born in New York City in October 1946, who was reportedly never supported by his family, is not an easy one. In October 2015, the future US President stated that his entire life had been a "big no," which he had fought through.
"It wasn't easy for me," Trump explained later. His father had given him only "a small loan of a million dollars," and he had later had to pay that back with interest. When reminded that this sounded like a relatively simple entrepreneurial start-up, Trump defended himself with the words: "You're right, but a million dollars isn't very much compared to what I've built."
What Trump has built up with his often repeated sledgehammer rhetoric in recent years is a following that doesn't take issue with his frequent denials or seemingly implausible claims - or even question them. Millions of people celebrate the Republican presidential candidate, and not just in the US. At the US Republican Party convention, Trump's family was in the spotlight. The impression of a family man certainly appeals to conservative fans.
The First Lady and Son Barron
The current wife of "The Donald," the former First Lady Melania Trump (54), appeared at the convention hand in hand with her husband. It was a rare sight of the woman born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, and former model, at her husband's side. A sign of familial unity on the outside.
Melania, who moved to the USA in the 1990s, is the third wife of the politician. They met for the first time in 1998, married in 2005, and in the following year, their son Barron (18) was born. According to media reports, they called him "little Donald" - "little Donald" - before at least some years had passed. In contrast to other children of Trump, it seems that Barron doesn't want much public attention, or Melania doesn't let him - not even at the convention, where the others showed up to support their father.
The First Marriage and the Famous Children
In his first marriage, the Ex-President was married to Ivana Trump (1949-2022), a former Czech model who moved to North America in the 1970s. She first lived in Canada before meeting her future husband in 1976. They married in 1977, but the marriage did not last. The "New York Times" reported in the spring of 1991 that the parties had reached a public divorce settlement and that Ivana Trump would receive 14 million US dollars and a villa with 45 rooms.
From the marriage come the three most famous Trump children: Donald Trump Jr. (46), Ivanka Trump (42), and Eric Trump (40), who soon after graduated laid entrepreneurial and also political ambitions at the table in the family tradition. Donald Jr. soon found himself in the Trump Organization, the company of his father. In political terms, he is considered a big supporter of Donald Trump. The "BBC" described him in 2020 as the "son who is even more trump than Trump." He has five children with his ex-wife Vanessa (46): Kai Madison, Donald John, Tristan Milos, Spencer Frederick, and Chloe Sophia.
In official advisory positions were Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner (43) to the 45th President of the USA during his tenure. The married entrepreneurs have three common children: Arabella Rose, Joseph Frederick, and Theodore James. Two more children, and thus nine and ten grandchildren for Donald Trump, were gifted to him by son Eric, who has been co-managing the Trump Organization with his brother Donald Jr. for several years. Eric is married since 2014 to the former TV producer and also staunch Republican Lara Trump (41), who gave birth to their children Luke and Carolina.
The second marriage and the "forgotten daughter"
Not long after the divorce from Ivanka, Trump gave the actress Marla Maples (60) his word in 1993. She may not have achieved great fame in Hollywood due to the relationship, but she was nonetheless prominently present in the tabloid press at the beginning. The divorce took place in 1999.
From this relationship came their common daughter Tiffany Trump (30), the political wallflower among the half-siblings. She received considerably less attention in recent years, which may also be due to the fact that she had fewer campaign appearances. As a party girl, she was shunned, referred to as the "forgotten daughter" by some. Tiffany now has over 1.3 million Instagram followers, no comparison to the currently around 7.6 million of Ivanka. It is worth noting that she is named after the internationally famous jeweler Tiffany & Co.
The next generation: Trump's star granddaughter Kai
The next generation of the Trumps is already ready. Donald Trump Jr. recently welcomed his granddaughter Kai Madison to her apparently first public speech on the party stage. The 17-year-old reportedly called him and said she wanted to speak to let America know what her grandfather is really like.
In her short speech, the eldest granddaughter of the politician painted a loving picture of her grandfather, who gives the children sweets when the parents aren't looking. The speech of Kai, who explicitly referred to herself as a "Trump," was celebrated as moving by supporters of the Republicans. Others mocked that the 78-year-old probably doesn't even know the name of his granddaughter.
One thing was clear from Kai's speech: Due to the many entrepreneurial, political, and media efforts of the Trumps, it will still be a long time before the clan calms down, regardless of how the coming US election turns out.
- Despite being an ex-President and a potential Republican contender for the upcoming US election, Donald Trump views himself as a true American, embracing the rags-to-riches narrative that has captivated many.
- Eric Trump, one of Donald Trump's sons, has been actively involved in the Trump Organization and is considered a big supporter of his father's political ambitions.
- According to a report by the "BBC", Donald Trump Jr., another son, is often described as being even more "trump" than his father.
- Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner served in official advisory positions to Donald Trump during his presidency, and they have three children together.
- From Eric's marriage to Lara Trump, he has two sons, Luke and Carolina, making them Donald Trump's grandchildren.
- Melania Trump, Donald Trump's current wife, is a former model who was born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, and moved to the USA in the 1990s.
- In a rare public appearance at the US Republican Party convention, Melania Trump was alongside her husband, demonstrating their family unity.
- In the 1980s, Donald Trump was married to Ivana Trump, a former Czech model, and they had three children together: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump.
- Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump's daughter from his second marriage to Marla Maples, had less public attention compared to her half-siblings, but she now has over 1.3 million Instagram followers.
