“I am very saddened to inform all those who loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “She was a wonderful, beautiful and amazing woman, who lived a wonderful and inspiring life. 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!” BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY – SEPTEMBER 21: (LR) Vanessa Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivana Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner attend the 9th Annual Eric Trump Foundation Golf Invitational Auction and Dinner at Trump National Golf Club Westchester on September 21, 2015 (Photo by Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images). Two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that police are investigating whether Ivana Trump fell down the stairs and believe her death was accidental. Story continues below ad She was found unconscious near a staircase in the home, the people said. The people could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The medical examiner’s office will determine the official cause of death. “It’s been a very sad day, a very sad day,” Eric Trump said as he left his mother’s Manhattan home. In a statement, he and his siblings called her “an incredible woman – a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty and caring mother and friend” and a survivor.
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“He left communism and embraced this country,” the statement continued. “She taught her children grit and toughness, compassion and determination. She will be greatly missed by her mother, her three children and her ten grandchildren.” Trending Stories
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A Czech-born ski racer and one-time model, Ivana Trump married the future president in 1977. She became an icon in her own right, with 80s style and elegance, accented with her signature beehive hairstyle. She would eventually appear in the 1996 hit film “The First Wives Club” with the now famous line, “Ladies, you have to be strong and independent and remember, don’t get angry, get it all.” Story continues below ad NEW YORK, NY – 1980: Donald Trump and Ivana Trump attend Roy Cohn’s birthday party in February 1980 in New York City. (Photo by Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images). Getty Images Partners in love and business _ with her acting roles as the manager of one of his Atlantic City casinos, Ivana and Donald were staples of the New York scene before their equally public and messy divorce. Donald Trump had met his next wife, Marla Maples. During the split, Ivana Trump accused him of rape in an affidavit in the early 1990s. She later said she didn’t mean it literally, but rather that she felt violated. However, she eventually remained friendly with her ex-husband, whom she famously called “The Donald”. He enthusiastically endorsed his 2016 run for the White House and told the New York Post in 2016 that he was both a supporter and adviser. “I suggest a few things,” he told the paper. “We talk before and after shows and he asks me what I think.” He said she advised him to “take it easy.” Story continues below ad “But Donald can’t be calm,” he added. “He is very honest. He just tells it like it is.” As supportive as she was, she occasionally burst her wings.
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In 2017, while promoting a book, she told “Good Morning America” that she spoke with the then-president every two weeks and had the White House’s direct number, but didn’t want to call often “because Melania is there and I don’t want to provoke no jealousy or anything like that because I’m basically Trump’s first wife, okay?’ he said laughing. “I’m the first lady, okay?” Melania Trump’s spokesman then responded, saying there was “clearly no substance to this statement from an ex, unfortunately it’s just attention-seeking and self-serving noise.” Ivana Trump was born Ivana Zelnickova in 1949 in the Czechoslovakian town of Gottwaldov, formerly Zlin, which had just been renamed by the communists who took over the country in 1948. She married Trump, her second husband, in 1977. © 2022 The Canadian Press
