Donald Trump Jr. is a prominent American businessman, TV personality, and the eldest son of US President Donald Trump. He is actively involved in the family business and holds a director position in the ‘Trump Trust.’ With a focus on expanding the family hotel business, Donald Jr. showcases his expertise in the real estate industry. While he does not hold an official post in the White House like his sister and brother-in-law, he actively engages in politics as a member of the ‘Republican Party.’ Donald Jr. campaigns for candidates, coordinates with the national committee, and organizes fundraising events. Known for his strong presence on social media, particularly Twitter, he defends his father’s decisions and protects him from critics. Additionally, Donald Jr. is a skilled speaker, delivering speeches across the United States and at international conferences. He is an avid hunter and a member of the ‘National Rifle Association,’ showcasing his diverse interests. Furthermore, he is recognized for his philanthropic endeavors.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Donald John Trump Jr.
- Age: 45 Years, 45 Year Old Males
- Spouse/Ex-: Vanessa Trump (m. 2005), Vanessa Haydon (m. 2005 – div. 2018)
- Father: Donald Trump
- Mother: Ivana Trump
- Siblings: Barron Trump, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump
- Children: Chloe Sophia Trump, Donald Trump III, Kai Madison Trump, Spencer Frederick Trump, Tristan Milos Trump
- Born Country: United States
- Height: 1.85 m
- Ancestry: German American, Austrian American
- U.S. State: New Yorkers
- Education: University Of Pennsylvania
Childhood & Early Life
Donald John Trump Jr. was born on December 31, 1977, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, to Ivana Marie and Donald Trump. Donald John Trump Jr. is the oldest son of the couple. Back then, his father was a real estate tycoon. Trump Jr. has two younger siblings, Ivanka and Eric. He also has two half-siblings.
Trump was quite close to his maternal grandfather, and spent his summers with him in Czechoslovakia. He learnt hunting and fishing from him.
In his childhood, he was often troubled by the media, who questioned him about his parents’ messy divorce in 1992. Therefore, his mother sent him to a boarding school called ‘The Hill School’ in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, from where he graduated in 1996.
He would visit his father during summer and help him as a dock attendant at the marina in ‘Trump Castle.’ He later helped him with the renovation of the ‘Seven Springs’ estate in New York.
Trump graduated from ‘Wharton School’ at the ‘University of Pennsylvania’ with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2000. He is fluent in Czech, which he learnt from his maternal grandfather.
In 2000, he moved to Aspen, Colorado, and spent a year camping, fishing, skiing, and bartending. He even lived in a truck for some time, before returning to New York.
Career
In 2001, Donald Trump Jr. joined his father’s business at ‘Trump Organization,’ supervising the development of ‘Trump Place,’ a complex in West Side, Manhattan. Later, he was given the responsibility of overseeing three key projects: ‘40 Wall Street,’ a 71-storey skyscraper in New York City, ‘Trump Park Avenue,’ a skyscraper hotel converted to a residential condominium, and ‘Trump International Hotel and Tower.’
From 2006 to 2015, he appeared as guest adviser and judge on many episodes of the television show ‘The Apprentice.’
When he became the executive vice president of ‘Trump Organization,’ he was given the responsibility of acquiring new projects and developing properties throughout the world—from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia, from Middle East to China, and from Canada to the USA.
He oversees all aspects of real estate development—from deal evaluation and pre-development planning to construction, branding, marketing, and sales. He is also handling the leasing process of ‘Trump Tower’ and ‘40 Wall Street’ in Manhattan.
In 2016, when his father decided to run for US president, he took up the challenge of handling the campaigns along with his brother and sister. In fact, he was one of his father’s close political advisers.
His speech at the 2016 ‘Republican National Convention’ was appreciated. In his speech, he projected Trump Sr. as a man for all seasons. He also said that his father would support the regular, hard-working Americans and make America great again.
According to the ‘Wall Street Journal,’ he had influenced his father in choosing Ryan Zinke as the US Secretary of the Interior. After Trump Sr.’s victory in the 2016 presidential elections, he played a key role in setting up the new administration.
He is also known for his appearances in documentary films, such as ‘You’ve Been Trumped’ (2011) and ‘You’ve Been Trumped Too’ (2016).
In January 2017, Trump Sr. announced Trump Jr. and his brother Eric as the directors of the ‘Trump Trust,’ and entrusted the brothers to supervise the functioning of the trust, which includes the assets of ‘Trump Organization.’
He also campaigned for congressional candidates Greg Gianforte and Karen Handel in 2017. He then discussed politics and 2018 mid-term elections with the ‘Republican National Committee’ officials.
He has raised $400,000 for the Indiana GOP, and $500,000 for the Dallas County GOP through fund raising events.
Major Works
Donald Trump Jr.’s role in his family business, which includes supervising the development of key real estate projects, is one of his most significant responsibilities.
His powerful speeches have made him a famous speaker. He often gets invited by foreign countries to deliver keynote speeches.
His appearances as guest adviser and judge on many episodes of the television show ‘The Apprentice’ have made him a well-known TV personality. He is also known for his hosting capabilities on TV shows like ‘21st Century Television’ and ‘Celebrity Apprentice.’
Personal Life & Legacy
Donald Trump Jr. and model Vanessa Kay Haydon got married on November 12, 2005, in Florida. His aunt Judge Maryanne Trump Barry officiated the marriage. He had met Haydon at a fashion show in 2003.
Trump Jr. and Vanessa have five children—two daughters—Kai Madison and Chloe Sophia—and three sons—Donald John III, Tristan Milos, and Spencer Frederick. Chloe Sophia, the youngest of all, was born on June 16, 2014. Trump Jr. and Vanessa divorced in 2018. The same year, he started dating Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Some of Trump Jr.’s hunting photos led to serious controversies in 2012. Two photos clicked in 2010 led to serious consequences. In one of the photos, he was seen holding a dead animal belonging to an endangered species. In the second photo, he was seen holding a knife and a bloody elephant tail. Consequently, one of the sponsors of his father’s ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ TV show dropped out of the program.
He is on the Board of Directors of ‘Operation Smile,’ a charity that helps children born with facial deformities. He is also associated with the ‘Eric Trump Foundation,’ which raises money for terminally-ill children.