When the late Ivana Trump publicly discussed her ex-husband Donald’s subsequent relationships, she made her feelings unmistakably known. During a notable appearance on CBS’s Sunday Morning, Trump’s first wife drew a clear comparison between Melania Trump and Marla Maples, describing one as insignificant while recognizing the other’s role as first lady. The conversation, which occurred before Ivana’s passing in July 2022 at age 73, provided rare insight into the internal dynamics of the Trump family and the enduring tensions from one of New York’s most high-profile divorces.
Ivana Trump’s view of Marla Maples was direct and severe. During the CBS conversation, she pointedly refused to mention Maples by name. Ivana characterized her as a performer who had never achieved anything noteworthy, demonstrating that many years after their split, certain grievances had not been resolved. The animosity originated from the highly publicized relationship between Trump and Maples during the 1990s that shattered Ivana’s marriage and became the subject of widespread media coverage across New York.
The pivotal moment that led to the breakdown of Ivana’s marriage happened during a winter vacation in Aspen in 1989. In her book “Raising Trump,” Ivana detailed the startling moment when a young fair-haired woman approached her directly. Maples supposedly told Ivana that she was in love with Donald Trump and asked if Ivana returned his affection. Ivana wrote that she instructed Maples to leave, noting that her reaction was impolite but explaining she had been completely taken aback. This encounter proved destructive to the marriage, prompting Ivana to request a divorce the subsequent year.
When the CBS interviewer pointed out that Ivana appeared to hold Maples responsible for the affair while absolving Trump, Ivana agreed with the assessment. Ivana pointed out that her former husband was frequently pursued by women, mentioning that Trump was given hundreds of business cards from women on a regular basis and had the ability to select from many options. She portrayed Maples as someone who was being forward and simply succeeded, thus directing responsibility toward the other woman instead of toward Trump’s role in initiating the affair.
By comparison, Ivana had no complaints regarding Melania Trump, who became Trump’s third wife and ultimately served as first lady throughout both of Trump’s administrations as president. Melania’s standing and prominence seemed to earn her a measure of admiration from Ivana that Maples could never achieve. This approval may have also been practical, as keeping good relations was advantageous for the three kids Ivana had with Trump.
Ivana and Trump were married from 1977 to 1990 (with the divorce becoming final in 1992), throughout which they were prominent members of New York’s elite circles and she contributed significantly to his business operations. She held the positions of CEO and president of the Trump Castle Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, showcasing her entrepreneurial talents beyond her position in high society. The pair had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. Despite the harsh separation process, Ivana and Trump preserved a workable partnership for many years afterward, linked by their mutual offspring.
Trump wed Maples in 1993, and their union lasted until 1999. The pair had one child together, Tiffany Trump. Some time following his separation from Maples, Trump indicated some remorse regarding the affair in a 1994 statement. He commended Ivana and their shared existence, suggesting that their union might have endured if not for his involvement with Maples. Trump portrayed his previous life with Ivana as having an attractive companion, an attractive spouse, and attractive everything else, referring to it as paradise.
Trump became acquainted with Melania in 1998 while still managing his separation from Maples. Following a sporadic courtship, Trump made a marriage proposal to Melania at the Met Gala in 2004. The two exchanged vows in Palm Beach, Florida, at a gathering that included many well-known attendees. Trump’s presidency in 2017 made Melania notable as the first foreign-born first lady since Louisa Adams, who served from 1825-1829. The couple has one child, Barron Trump, who is presently in university.
In spite of their turbulent past, Trump spoke positively about Ivana at her memorial service in 2022. He characterized his former spouse and mother of his three oldest children as someone who persevered and never took things casually. Ivana took great pride in her children throughout her years, most notably when they participated in their father’s political campaigns. The three children Ivana had raised became important players in the Trump Organization and Trump’s political initiatives, an accomplishment that seemed to bring her great joy as she managed the complicated family relationships stemming from her ex-husband’s later marriages.
