The late socialite and fashion icon Ivana Trump received a "glamourous send-off" on the Upper
East Side of New York this week, but there was one guest at her funeral who wasn't expected
to show up. Who made the controversial appearance? Keep watching to find out.
The family and loved ones of Ivana Trump gathered for the late matriarch and businesswoman's funeral
on July 20th, 2022. Ivana died suddenly at the age of 73 on July 14th due to "blunt impact injuries
of the torso," according to the New York City medical examiner. Officials confirmed Ivana's
death was accidental and caused by a fall. Zach Erdem, a friend of the late fashion designer,
revealed to the New York Post that Ivana's health was failing in the weeks before her passing.
Following her death, Ivana's ex-husband, former president Donald Trump, shared a tribute to the
mother of his children, on his social media platform, Truth Social, posting, in part,
"I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many,
that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City."
To honor her larger-than-life legacy, Ivana's family planned a, quote,
"glamorous send-off" at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church, according to People magazine.
Gossip columnist R. Couri Hay told Inside Edition that the service was "very moving."
"It was a full-on Catholic service. Twelve celebrants, a choir, an opera singer."
Ivana's three children — Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump – were among
those in attendance and all spoke at the service. Former first lady Melania
and Barron Trump also came to pay their respects. Eric Trump said of his mother during the service,
"She was the embodiment of the American dream ... She was a force of nature."
Donald Trump Jr.'s ex-wife, Vanessa Trump, was also in attendance.
According to the Daily Mail, Vanessa and Donald Jr. were spotted comforting their daughter Chloe.
Vanessa's attendance likely came as a surprise to some of the mourners, as Vanessa and Donald
Jr. reportedly had a messy split. In 2018, sources revealed to Page Six that Don Jr. treated Vanessa,
quote, "like a second-class citizen." Vanessa has since denied those claims.
Ivana Trump offered her opinion on her kids' marital issues in interviews over the years.
In 2018, when Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump announced they were
separating after 12 years together, Ivana said that she couldn't blame
Vanessa for choosing to leave, especially since Vanessa reportedly left Donald Jr.
after he got involved in a cheating scandal. She told Page Six at the time,
"Who am I to judge and who knows what was the situation at that moment? It's a long
time ago now, so I think Vanessa knew it all along and maybe she just couldn't get over the
hurt to forgive him. But I honestly don't know that many men who can keep their zippers up."
She also made a comparison to her own experience,
as she found out that Donald Sr. had cheated on her with Marla Maples when they were married.
Noting that she divorced Donald "immediately" over concerns that he would cheat again, Ivana said,
"I have pride and I have dignity and stuff like that,
but so many women, around the world, they live with the men knowing that they are
cheating and stuff like that. Everybody handles their situation their own way."
Ivana also shared her two cents on Vanessa's dating life after she divorced Donald Trump Jr.
At the time, Ivana thought that the then-40-year-old mother of five
may have a hard time finding a new partner. Ivana said she was "very sad" about the breakup,
but she didn't worry about her son finding love again, telling Page Six,
"Donald Jr. is a good-looking guy. He is successful. He is not going to have
a problem [...] Maybe Vanessa might have a little problem because she
has five kids. Who is going to date and marry the woman who has five children?
Especially since she is young and she might want to have more."
What's ironic, though, is that Ivana was also in her 40s when she divorced Donald Trump Sr.,
and she ultimately married twice more. It looks like she was wrong, however,
as Vanessa allegedly got involved with someone else — someone also connected to the White House.
In Carol Leonnig's book, "Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service," it was revealed that
Vanessa had apparently struck up a relationship with a Secret Service agent. It detailed how she
and Tiffany Trump got, in Leonnig's words, "inappropriately — and perhaps dangerously —
close" with some members of the security detail, although the two never confirmed this claim.
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