It is kinda wild how life works out sometimes. You think you know a family because you see them on the news every night for years, but the reality is usually a lot more quiet—and a lot more human—behind the scenes. When Vanessa Trump filed for divorce from Donald Trump Jr. back in 2018, the tabloids went into a full-blown frenzy. People were speculating about everything from money to "strained marriages" to life-changing inheritances. But for the five kids involved, including Donald Trump III, the reality wasn't a political drama. It was just life.
Honestly, the way people talk about the Trumps usually skips over the actual people. They focus on the rallies or the tweets. But if you look at how Vanessa Trump has handled things since the split, it’s actually a pretty interesting case study in how to navigate a high-profile divorce without losing your mind—or your privacy. She basically traded the Manhattan spotlight for a much more low-key existence in Florida, focusing almost entirely on her kids.
The Early Days of Vanessa Trump and Donald Trump III
To understand where Donald Trump III—often called "Donny"—is now, you have to look at where he came from. He was born in February 2008, the second child and first son of Vanessa and Don Jr. He arrived just about a year after his older sister, Kai.
If you remember the mid-2000s, this was a different era for the family. They were the "Apprentice" family, not the "White House" family. Vanessa was a former model who had been introduced to Don Jr. by his father at a fashion show. It’s a famous story now: Donald Trump Sr. introduced them, then forgot he did it and introduced them again five minutes later.
Vanessa told the New York Times years ago that they didn’t even hit it off that first night. It took another meeting at a birthday party weeks later for them to actually talk for an hour and realize there was a spark. By the time Donald Trump III was born, they were settled into a life that was wealthy and public, but not yet "political lightning rod" public.
Growing Up in a Fishbowl
Donny III grew up in a world where cameras were everywhere. Whether it was red carpets or family appearances on The Apprentice, he and his siblings were always around the business. But Vanessa was always the one trying to keep things grounded. Friends have described her as a "mama bear" who was much more interested in the kids’ school schedules than in being a socialite.
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As the years went by, the family grew. After Donny III came:
- Tristan (born 2011)
- Spencer (born 2012)
- Chloe (born 2014)
That’s five kids in about seven years. That is a lot for anyone, even with help.
The 2018 Pivot: Why Vanessa Trump Walked Away
When the divorce news broke in March 2018, it felt like a shock, but sources close to the couple said they had been "living separate lives" for a while. There was a lot of talk about Don Jr.’s travel schedule and his intense political involvement.
But there was also a specific story that made the rounds—one that sounds like something out of a movie. Reports suggested that Vanessa Trump had inherited a significant amount of money from her father, Charles Haydon, who had invested in a pasta sauce company called Rao’s Speciality Foods. When the company was sold, Vanessa reportedly received a windfall.
Whether that was the "straw that broke the camel's back" or just gave her the financial independence to make a move, she filed for an uncontested divorce. She didn't want a fight. She wanted a clean break.
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Co-Parenting Donald Trump III and the Siblings
What’s actually impressive—and you don't hear this much in the news—is how amicable they’ve stayed. You’ll see Vanessa at Mar-a-Lago for holidays. You’ll see her at the inauguration. She and Don Jr. even released a joint statement saying their children would always be their "top priority."
And they seem to mean it. Donald Trump III and his brothers are often seen on Don Jr.’s Instagram, hunting, fishing, or at the gym. They are being raised with that "outdoorsy" Trump brand that Don Jr. loves. Meanwhile, Vanessa is the one on the ground in Florida, managing the day-to-day.
Where is Donald Trump III Now?
Donny III is a teenager now. Like his older sister Kai—who made waves with her speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention—he is largely growing up in Florida. The kids attend private schools in the Palm Beach area, like The Benjamin School, which is a big hub for high-profile families.
He’s not as public as Kai is yet. Kai has become a bit of a golf influencer and a budding public figure in her own right. Donny III, however, seems to be enjoying a bit more of a "normal" teenage life, if you can call it that when your grandfather is the President.
The Tiger Woods Connection
Here is a detail that sounds fake but is actually 100% real: Vanessa Trump is dating Tiger Woods.
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Yeah, you read that right. In early 2025, it became official. They actually met through their kids. Tiger’s kids (Sam and Charlie) and Vanessa’s kids (including Kai and Donald Trump III) all attend the same school and play in the same golf circles.
It’s a small world in Jupiter, Florida. Apparently, Don Jr. is "cool" with it, which is the most mature thing to come out of that circle in a while. It’s funny to think about Donald Trump III potentially having Tiger Woods around the house, but it just goes to show how much the family’s life has shifted toward the sports and country club world of Florida and away from the concrete jungle of New York.
Insights for Navigating High-Profile Changes
Looking at the trajectory of Vanessa and her children, there are actually some pretty solid takeaways for anyone going through a major life transition, even if you aren't a Trump.
- Privacy is a Choice: Vanessa proved you can be part of the most famous family in the world and still stay mostly out of the press if you really want to. She stopped doing interviews. She kept her social media private. It works.
- Amicable is Better: The kids, especially the older ones like Donald Trump III, seem well-adjusted because their parents aren't trashing each other on cable news. Keeping the divorce "uncontested" saved them years of public trauma.
- Focus on Interests: By leaning into the kids' interests—like golf for Kai and the outdoors for the boys—the family has created a "normal" structure that exists outside of politics.
The story of Vanessa Trump and her son Donald Trump III isn't over, obviously. Donny is just getting started, and as the Trump legacy continues to evolve, he’ll likely have to decide for himself how much of the spotlight he wants to claim. For now, he’s just a kid in Florida with a very famous last name and a mom who fought hard to give him a life that feels like his own.
If you’re interested in how the rest of the family is shaping up, you can check out the latest on Kai Trump’s golf career or the business moves being made by the younger generation of the Trump Organization.
Next Steps: You might want to look into the specific golf tournaments Kai Trump is competing in, as she is currently the most public-facing of Vanessa's children and often provides the most direct window into their family life in Florida.