In a previous frank discussion that emerged recently, the deceased Ivana Trump, Donald Trump’s initial spouse, revealed her preference between the two women who wed Trump subsequently. During an earlier appearance on CBS’s Sunday Morning, Ivana made a stark distinction between Marla Maples, Trump’s second spouse, and Melania Trump, the current first lady, labeling Maples insignificant while expressing support for Melania.
When asked about both women, Ivana answered directly: “One is a nobody, the other is First Lady.” Her statement reflected her persistent animosity toward Maples, whose involvement with Donald Trump during the late 1980s ultimately led to Ivana’s highly publicized separation from him in 1990. Their union had lasted since 1977 and made them a notable pair within New York’s elite circles.
Ivana and Donald Trump had three offspring—Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric—who subsequently became prominent participants in their father’s commercial operations and electoral efforts. Despite their contentious breakup, Ivana and Trump sustained cordial relations for an extended period. The former president spoke positively about her at her 2022 memorial service. She passed at age 73, and Trump mentioned at the ceremony that she persevered and valued everything she had.
The resurfaced discussion demonstrated how persistent Ivana’s bitterness toward Maples was. During the CBS segment with correspondent Jim Axelrod, when Trump’s second wife was mentioned, Ivana made it plain she had no desire to discuss her. She characterized Maples as “a showgirl” who accomplished little and declined to reference her by name throughout the conversation.
Her frustration originated from a widely reported event during a 1989 holiday in Aspen. In her book “Raising Trump,” Ivana recounted a meeting on the mountain slopes where Maples approached her, expressed her romantic feelings for Donald Trump, and posed a question about Ivana’s affection for her spouse. Ivana told her to depart, subsequently describing the episode as surprising and uncharacteristic for her.
Trump verified the Aspen meeting in a 1994 conversation, mentioning apparent hostility between the two women, though no loud arguing happened. This occurrence essentially terminated his marriage to Ivana, who initiated divorce procedures the next year. Trump tied the knot with Maples in 1993; they separated in 1999 and have a daughter, Tiffany Trump.
During the same 1994 conversation, Trump indicated some remorse regarding the romantic involvement, complimenting the existence he and Ivana previously enjoyed. He proposed that his initial marriage could have survived without the association with Maples, mentioning he had an attractive spouse, an attractive companion, and an attractive existence—everything seemed wonderful, he recalled.
However, in her CBS appearance, Ivana notably did not assign responsibility to Donald for the romantic involvement. When Axelrod inquired whether she held Maples accountable but absolved Trump, Ivana stated that Maples had been alluring and had merely prevailed. She explained that numerous women were drawn to Trump, noting he received countless business contact information each evening and had unlimited romantic alternatives.
In contrast to her feelings about Maples, Ivana harbored no negativity toward Melania Trump. Her favorable view possibly originated from Melania’s position as first lady throughout Trump’s tenure, a status Ivana seemed to admire. Preserving positive interactions also benefited the three children she and Trump had together, who remained significant to both guardians.
Trump encountered Melania in 1998 while managing remaining separation concerns with Maples. Following a partnership with fluctuations, he made a proposal to Melania at the Met Gala in 2004. They united in Palm Beach, Florida, with prominent attendees including Rudy Giuliani, Barbara Walters, and President Bill Clinton present. The pair has one child, Barron Trump.
Upon becoming president in 2017, Melania held the distinction of being the inaugural foreign-born first lady since Louisa Adams in 1829, spouse of President John Quincy Adams. Ivana spoke favorably about her children’s participation in their father’s electoral endeavors, with Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric frequently participating in campaign appearances and holding positions in both of Trump’s presidential terms.
The interactions among Trump’s three spouses illustrated the intricate romantic background of an individual married multiple times while remaining perpetually in public attention. Ivana’s blunt assessment of Maples and Melania offered perspective into how she maintained her own standing as Trump’s original wife while witnessing two additional women assume the position she previously held.