Were Ivana Trump's three kids still close with her in her later years?
How about her grandkids? And what did Ivanka, Donald Jr.,
and Eric say in their remarks at her funeral? Keep watching for the details.
Ivana Trump, the first wife of former President Donald Trump and the mother of Ivanka Trump,
Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump, passed away in her Manhattan home on July 14,
2022, at the age of 73. Following her death,
the Trump family issued a heartfelt statement about Ivana, which read, in part:
"Our mother was an incredible woman — a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty,
and caring mother and friend. Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced
this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion, and determination."
It's no secret that Ivana had a special bond with her children.
Her relationship with her daughter Ivanka was especially close while she was growing up.
Ivana has also never been afraid to speak out about what raising children with former
President Donald Trump was like. In October 2016,
she opened up to a group at a benefit. The New York Daily News quoted her as saying,
"I brought up the children singlehandedly. Donald wasn't really interested in the children
until he could talk business with them. [...] When they turned 21,
I handed them over to him and said, 'Here's the finished product, you can take them from here.'"
"He was not a father that would take a stroller and go to the Central Park."
Though Ivana's three children all got involved in their father's business and political endeavors,
they always remained close with their mother. Ivana also had a strong relationship with her
grandchildren. On an episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now," she explained,
"They call me, not grandma. They call me 'Glam-ma' or 'Ivana-ma,' for the youngest ones."
She would often receive heartfelt posts on Mother's Day and her birthday from her
children. Ivanka, for example, posted to Instagram in 2016,
"Happy #MothersDay to my amazing mom. You've taught me so much—you truly lead by example.
I hope one day my children look up to me as much as I look up to you."
Ivana's July 20 funeral was attended by her entire family,
including her ex-husband Donald Trump and his current wife Melania Trump.
It was clearly a tough day for Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric Trump. Their half-siblings,
Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump, both of whom have different mothers, also attended.
During the funeral, Ivanka read a heartfelt eulogy, in which she shared how much she
adored her mother's work ethic. She said, according to the New York Post,
"Growing up, my mother didn't tell me a woman could do anything she wanted to,
she showed me. She was a trailblazer by men and
women alike. [...] My mother once told me there was nothing she couldn't do in heels.
She taught us how to spearfish and then cook what we caught. My mom expanded our minds."
Ivanka's eulogy echoed memories Ivana shared in her memoir,
"Raising Trump." Ivana wrote that shared breakfast and dinner
with her three children daily and spent as much time with them as possible.
According to Crow River Media, Donald Jr. also spoke about how independent and fearless his
mother was, sharing the story of her seeking refugee status from her native Czech Republic.
Eric has been the most open of Ivana Trump's children when
it comes to sharing his grief in public. He told Fox News Digital,
"She would beat any man down a mountain on skis
and look like a supermodel doing it. She was an extraordinary woman."
He said in 2017,
"I have the greatest mom in the world. I mean, she is
tough, and she is strong, and she is elegant. She can be outspoken as well."
Eric was also the first of Ivana's children to share a public post about
her passing on Instagram, and was the first to be seen out in public
following her passing. As he exited his mother's New York City home on the day of her death,
he told a group of reporters that it was "a very sad day."
According to Crow River Media, Eric stated in his eulogy,
"She had brains; she had beauty. She was the
embodiment of the American dream. [...] She was a force of nature."