Ivana Trump — Donald Trump’s first wife and mother of his three eldest children — has died at the age of 73, the former president announced Thursday.
Ivana Trump “passed away at her home in New York City,” Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, without providing the cause of death.
“She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life,” said Donald Trump, 76.
“Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them, as we were all so proud of her. Rest In Peace, Ivana!” he added in the post.
Ivana Trump, a model who grew up under communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia, married Donald Trump, then a budding real estate developer, in 1977.
Their first child, Donald Jr., was born later that year. Ivanka was born in 1981 and Eric followed in 1984.
Eric Trump posted a tribute to his mother, who was also an accomplished skier during her childhood in Eastern Europe, on Instagram Thursday.
“Our mother was an incredible woman — a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend,” the post said.
“She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children, and ten grandchildren,” he added.
Throughout the ’80s, the Trumps were one of New York’s highest-profile couples, their extravagant lifestyle exemplifying the flashy excesses of the decade.
Their power and celebrity grew as Donald Trump’s property business soared, with Ivana Trump taking on a number of key roles in the business.
Their high-profile split, rumored to have been caused in part by Donald Trump’s affair with actress Marla Maples, provided juicy content for New York’s tabloids.
Donald Trump and Ivana Trump divorced in the early ’90s and in 1993 the future president married Maples.
Ivana Trump went on to enjoy a successful business career of her own, developing clothing, jewelry, and beauty products and penning a number of books.
Donald Trump’s union with Maples lasted until 1999. He married his third and current wife, Melania Trump, in 2005.
AFP
