You’ve probably heard the rumors or seen the snippets on social media. People love to dig into the past of public figures, especially someone as polarizing as Donald Trump. In the middle of all the political noise, a question often pops up: did trump date a black woman? It’s not just a random curiosity—it's a piece of history that gets used in arguments about his character and his views on race.
The short answer is yes. But like most things in the world of high-society New York, the details are way more interesting than a simple "yes" or "no."
We’re talking about Kara Young. She wasn’t just "some girl." In the late 90s, she was a legit supermodel. We’re talking Vogue covers, Victoria’s Secret, and Revlon ads alongside legends like Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. She was everywhere.
The Relationship That Most People Forgot
Trump and Kara Young were a serious item for about two and a half years. This wasn't some weekend fling. It started around 1997, right after his divorce from Marla Maples was finalized. If you look back at the gossip columns from that era—think Page Six or the old school New York Magazine—you’ll see them together at all the big movie premieres and Hamptons parties.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a time capsule.
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Young has been quite open about the fact that she didn’t think he was her "type" at first. She told Inside Edition that she didn't expect to like him, but he won her over with his personality. "He's very funny," she said. It’s a side of the man that many people today find hard to imagine, but for over two years, they were one of Manhattan's most photographed couples.
Who is Kara Young?
Kara is biracial. Her mother is Black and her father is white. When people ask "did trump date a black woman," they are usually referring to her. She’s often described as one of the "original" supermodels of that era who broke barriers in the fashion industry.
While they dated, race didn't seem to be a central "issue" in the way it became later during his presidency. Young has said that Trump knew her heritage from day one. He didn't hide her, and she didn't hide her race. They lived their lives in the very public, very wealthy bubble of late-90s New York City.
The Controversial "Joke"
Things get a bit messy when you look at the anecdotes that have come out since Trump entered politics. In Maggie Haberman’s book Confidence Man, there’s a story that Young later confirmed. After meeting Young's parents, Trump reportedly made a comment that her beauty came from her mother and her intelligence came from her father—the "white side."
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Young says she checked him on it immediately.
"Don't say that, it's not funny," she told him. According to her, he backed down and said he was just joking. It’s one of those moments that people point to when trying to understand his private views. Young herself has been nuanced about it. She didn't call him a "racist" in the traditional sense during those interviews, but she definitely didn't find the comment appropriate.
She once mentioned to the New York Times that he would compare her to Derek Jeter, who is also biracial. It seemed to be his way of conceptualizing her identity.
Why the Relationship Ended
Every relationship has its shelf life. For Trump and Young, it ended around 1999 or 2000. Why? According to Young, "it just ran its course." There wasn't some explosive, tabloid-ready scandal that tore them apart. They just moved on.
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Trump eventually met Melania Knauss, and the rest is history. Young also moved on and married Peter Georgiopoulos, a billionaire shipping magnate.
- The Timeline: 1997 to roughly late 1999.
- The Vibe: High-fashion, New York socialites, constant paparazzi.
- The Aftermath: They stayed on friendly enough terms that she called to congratulate him when he won the presidency in 2016.
It's funny how things change. In 2017, following the events in Charlottesville, Young spoke out again. She was clearly uncomfortable with his "both sides" comment. She told reporters that while she never heard him say disparaging things about race while they were dating, she was "horrified" by the rhetoric coming from the White House.
The Takeaway
So, when someone asks did trump date a black woman, you have the full picture. He dated a biracial supermodel for several years during one of the most visible periods of his life as a private citizen.
If you want to understand the full scope of this story, don't just look at the headlines. Look at Kara Young’s own words. She has been careful not to let herself be used as a political pawn for either side. She acknowledges the "fun" and "personality" of the man she knew in the 90s, while also being willing to call out the comments that she found offensive.
If you're researching this to win a debate or just for personal knowledge, the best next step is to look up the original Inside Edition or New York Times interviews with Kara Young from 2017 and 2022. They provide the most direct, unfiltered perspective on what that relationship was actually like behind the flashbulbs.