Ivana & Donald Trump Remained Close Friends 30 Years after His Affair Led to Their Nasty Divorce

Ivana and Donald Trump made the headlines after they tied the knot. Unfortunately, their once happy marriage turned sour after the former president cheated. The pair divorced, but they remained friends. Here are details of Ivana and Donald's relationship.

Czech-American Businesswoman, Media Personality, and Fashion Designer Ivana Trump was famous for many things, one of which was being the first wife of former U.S President Donald Trump.

But before she and Donald's union came to be, the star was previously married to her first husband, Alfred Winklmayr, an Austrian Ski Instructor. The pair tied the knot in 1971, and Ivana got her Austrian passport the following year.

She finally escaped communist Czechoslovakia, where she had grown up, without defects. Not long after Ivana got her passport, Winklmayr filed for an absentee divorce in Los Angeles, where he had moved to teach skiing.

The marriage was dissolved in 1973, after which Ivana settled in Canada. There, she worked as a ski instructor and model. The star also took English courses at McGill University at night before eventually relocating to Manhattan, New York, in 1976.

That same year, Ivana would meet Donald Trump while on a job with a group of models at a reception. The businesswoman recounted their first encounter in her 2017 memoir "Raising Trump."

According to Ivana, Donald secured a table for her and her friends at a hot restaurant in Manhattan. Then, he paid the check and drove her back to her hotel in Cadillac.

Ivana and Donald soon started dating and eventually tied the knot on April 9, 1977. The duo was New York's stereotypical power couple for nearly two decades, dominating the tabloids and social scene.

They were often spotted together at Broadway openings and on the red carpet, making them a constant topic of discussion. By 1984, Ivana and Trump were not only a couple but doting parents to three children, Donald Jr, Ivanka, and Eric.

IVANA AND DONALD'S MESSY DIVORCE

Ivana and Donald's marriage seemed like it would last a lifetime, but unfortunately, it was the opposite. By 1989, there were reports that the pair's union was crumbling. Ivana had discovered that Donald was having a steamy affair with Marla Maples during a Christmas ski holiday in Aspen.

The following year would see the start of a nasty divorce battle. During the process, Donald told the public that he was unsure if he would get married again. It was quite visible that the effects of the court proceedings weighed greatly on him.

The acrimonious battle continued for a while, with Ivana accusing her husband of rape and physical abuse, claims which the media personality would later take back. Eventually, in 1992, the pair's divorce was finalized. Ivana walked away with $14 million, a large Connecticut estate, an apartment in Trump Plaza, New York City, and the use of Mar-a-Lago for one month a year.

The prenuptial agreement she repeatedly signed gave her custody of the three kids. One year after Ivana and Donald's divorce, the latter tied the knot with Maples following the birth of their daughter, Tiffany. Unfortunately, their union did not last long as they announced their decision to part ways in 1997.

The following year, the former President met the woman who would become his third wife, Melania Trump. The pair married in January 2005 and welcomed their only son, Barron, in March 2006.

Despite being married to Melania, Donald kept one of his ex-wives close, Ivana. The businesswoman would later reveal that were it not for Maples, her marriage to the Politician might not have ended.

DETAILS OF IVANA AND DONALD'S FRIENDSHIP

Ivana and Donald proved that all exes do not have to become foes. Despite their divorce's acrimony, the pair managed to stay friends afterward. In "Gatecrasher," Author Ben Widdicombe revealed that it was possible because the former couple's three children cemented their bond.

He also mentioned that Donald's divorce from Maples might have helped the friendship blossom. Widdicombe was not the only one who confirmed Ivana and Donald's bond, as some of the former's friends noted the same. Ivana also once described her and the former president as "best of friends."

Even after Donald became president in 2017, Ivana revealed to "Good Morning America" that she had a direct number to the White House and talked to her ex-husband about once in two weeks.

During the interview, she also jokingly said she was the "first Trump wife and the First Lady." Not long after Ivana's claims, Melania's spokesperson responded with a statement that read:

"Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for Barron and The President. She loves living in Washington DC and is honored by her role as First Lady of the United States. She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books."

"There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. Unfortunately, only attention-seeking and self-serving noise," the spokesperson concluded. Despite the response, Ivana would later reveal that she liked Melania, adding that she was thankful that the latter was in the White House with Donald, not her.

IVANA'S LIFE AFTER HER DIVORCE FROM DONALD

After Ivana parted ways with Donald, she focused on her life and career. She worked hard to be known for her achievements `and not just "Donald Trump's ex-wife." In 1995, the mom of three starred with her ex-husband in a Pizza Hut commercial.

Then, in 1996, she appeared in the movie "The First Wives Club." Ivana also made headlines due to the milestones in her love life. In November 1995, she exchanged wedding vows for the third time with Italian Entrepreneur and Businessman Riccardo Mazzucchelli.

Sadly, their union was short-lived as they divorced two years later. On April 12, 2008, Ivana married her fourth husband, Rossano Rubicondi. The union lasted less than a year, making it Ivana's shortest marriage.

Ivana did not welcome more children in her subsequent marriages. She focused on her three kids with Donald and was the best mom she could be.

The fashion designer took credit for raising her kids right in her memoir. She confessed that she was responsible for making decisions about vital areas of their lives.

According to Ivana, it was after each child finished college that Donald took over. Ultimately, it is safe to say that the businesswoman and her husband did well as their children turned out successful.

INSIDE IVANA'S DEMISE

On July 14, 2022, the world was shocked by the news of Ivana's death. A report revealed paramedics responded to a cardiac arrest call at Ivana's home after 12:30 pm.

Upon arrival at the location, the fashion designer was found unresponsive and unconscious at the bottom of a set of stairs in her apartment. Sadly, after paramedics tried their best, they pronounced Ivana dead. The cause of death is yet to be revealed.

Donald released a statement on Ivana's Truth Social Platform after her death. In the note, the former president described his ex-wife as a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman who led a great and inspirational life. He added,

"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."

The Trump family also took to their social media accounts to pay tribute to the star. The world and her family will always remember Ivana. May her soul rest in peace.