Unlike her high-profile siblings, Donald Trumpâs lesser-known child was raised far from the glitz of Manhattan. From her childhood to her marriage and growing family, hereâs her surprising story.
Donald Trumpâs children have been a visible part of his personal and political life, often making headlines alongside him. But one of his children had a vastly different upbringing â one that set her apart from her half-siblings.

President Donald Trump at âThe ABC News Presidential Debate: Race for the White Houseâ on September 10, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | Source: Getty Images
While she wasnât as publicly involved with the Trump empire in her early years, her connection to the family remained. Now, after pursuing higher education, finding love, and starting a family of her own, her story has come full circle.

President Donald Trump photographed on May 30, 2024, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
A Childhood Far from the Trump Spotlight
When Donald Trump and Marla Maples married in 1993, their lavish wedding at the Plaza Hotel was a grand affair, attended by some of the most influential figures in politics, sports, business, and entertainment.

Donald Trump and Marla Maples after their wedding ceremony at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan on December 20, 1993. | Source: Getty Images
However, their marriage was short-lived, and by 1999, they had officially divorced. While Donald remained at the center of the New York social and business scene, Marla made a dramatic decision â she moved across the country with their daughter, settling in Calabasas, California.

Marla Maples and Donald Trump photographed with their newborn daughter in 1993. | Source: Getty Images
Marla, who had once embraced the fast-paced life of New York City in her twenties, wanted something different for her child.
She longed to provide the kind of upbringing she had experienced growing up in rural Georgia, one filled with home-cooked meals, watching âGilmore Girlsâ in bed, a trampoline in the backyard, and a sense of normalcy.

Marla Maples photographed with her daughter after a stroll in Central Park, New York, in 1995. | Source: Getty Images
âWe loved going to the movies together. That was our big night out,â Maples shared. âWe were always together. She gave me the chance to have a normal childhood,â her daughter added.
The move effectively made Marla a single mother, though she never resented the responsibility. âHer daddy is a good provider with education and such, but as far as time, it was just me,â she admitted.

Donald Trump and Marla Maples with their daughter at an event in New York in 1994. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the distance, Marla encouraged her daughter to maintain a connection with her father. She made it a priority to bring her to New York a few times a year, allowing her to visit Donald at his office and spend time with him and his wife, Melania.

Marla Maples and Donald Trump photographed with their daughter in 1995 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
âI just said itâs important for her to form her own relationship with him, without my input. I wanted to create some consistency where she could see him,â Marla explained.

Marla Maples with her daughter at Donald Trumpâs 50th birthday party on June 13, 1996, at Trump Tower in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Donaldâs hands-on parenting moments were rare but memorable. Marla recalled instances from when their daughter was a baby at Mar-a-Lago, where Donald would carry her around as he spoke to electricians and carpenters working on the clubâs health spa.
However, those early interactions were fleeting, and Marla made sure to document them. âI kept pictures for her to prove it,â she said.

Donald Trump holding hands with his daughter while speaking onstage at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 22, 1997. | Source: Getty Images
One of the most striking differences between Marla and Donaldâs daughterâs upbringing and that of her half-siblings was the level of involvement their father had in their lives.
Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, whom Donald shares with his first wife, Ivana, were raised in the heart of the Trump empire, deeply connected to their fatherâs business endeavors.

Marla Maples and Donald Trump with their daughter on stage at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 1, 1997. | Source: Getty Images
His youngest son, Barron, from his current marriage to Melania, also had a vastly different experience. However, Marla never wanted her daughter to feel like an outsider in the family. She worked to ensure that she had a relationship with her siblings, even if their upbringings were vastly different.

Ivanka and Eric Trump with their younger half-sister at their fatherâs 50th birthday party on June 13, 1996, at Trump Tower in New York. | Source: Getty Images
âI never let her ever think of them as her half-sister or half-brothers,â Marla said. âThis is your family. It was really important to me â every birthday, every occasion, always say âHiâ and connect.â
She remained steadfast in her belief that the relationships between the children should be separate from whatever tensions may have existed between the adults.
âNo matter what may have been going on between her father and [me], I wanted the kids to always stay connected and rooted,â she explained. Her efforts paid off, and she developed a deep appreciation for her daughterâs siblings.
âIâll always love them. I knew them when they were so young, and Iâm so proud of who they are today. Theyâre all fantastic to [her],â Marla added. As Donald and Marlaâs daughter grew older, the opportunity to spend time with her father and siblings increased.
When she enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, where both Donald and Ivanka had studied, she found herself closer to the familyâs New York City hub.
âWe see each other as much as possible and of course, we speak on the phone. I think regardless of distance, I donât think that dictates any relationship strains,â she said.
For Donald and Marlaâs daughter, the bond with her father had always been more emotional than physical. âI really have an emotional bond with him, and he was always just the funniest, most loving father,â she explained.
âIâm so lucky to have parents who are so supportive of me, of each other. That really shows the respect two people have for each other,â she added.
Being on the East Coast also meant she could bond more with her siblings, particularly Ivanka, who had taken on a mentoring role. âSheâs able to spend more time with Ivanka who has been a great supporter,â Marla said.
âIvanka and [her husband Jared Kushner] have been helping make suggestions of jobs she can take after school. Theyâve been so kind and helpful,â she added.
As she transitioned into adulthood, her connection to the Trump name became more visible. She stepped further into the public eye, joining her family on the campaign trail as her dad pursued the presidency.
In 2016, she made a high-profile appearance alongside her family during CNNâs Town Hall event. âShe found out about that when she was out in L.A. with me [for Dancing With the Stars],â Marla said.
âShe had to be back in N.Y.C. the next day. Itâs like, âWhat is she going to wear?â I got a chance to scramble as a mom again and help get her ready to step into that world. I put an outfit I had borrowed to wear on Access Hollywood on her,â she added.
Seeing her daughter in such a public role was a moment of pride for Marla. âI knew she would ultimately have a public life,â she said.
âBut watching her sit there in that arena with that much pressure on her and see how she has become a woman. I could not have been more proud of her,â Marla added.
Yet, what meant the most to her was seeing the sibling bond remain intact. âWhat touched my heart the most was to see her and her siblings all sitting there together,â she said.

Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump, Donaldâs daughter with Marla Maples, and Ivanka Trump at the season five finale of âThe Apprenticeâ on June 5, 2006. | Source: Getty Images
Marla believed that the unique challenges of being raised by a single mother ultimately shaped her daughter into a poised and resilient woman. It âhelped her learn to keep calm in the eye of the storm,â she said.

Donald Trump and his daughter during The 53rd Annual Miss USA Competition afterparty in 2004 in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
âShe was with me through every bit of my journey, through the last 22 years. I never hid anything from her. She watched me have to go through so much in the media and how I handled it,â Marla continued.

Donald Trump and his daughter Tiffany Trump posing on the red carpet for the Autism Speaks event at the Mar-a-Lago Club on March 30, 2008, in Palm Beach, Florida. | Source: Getty Images
Now, as she continues to navigate life under the Trump name, Donaldâs daughter carries with her the lessons she learned from her mother.
âNow she is able to step in there and be her true self who loves her mother and her father and her family. I couldnât be more proud of her,â Marla said.
Tiffany Trump, now 32, grew up largely outside the Trump spotlight, but as she entered adulthood, she embraced more of her familyâs public life. Her mother proudly celebrated her daughterâs achievements, taking to X, formerly Twitter, in 2016 to mark her graduation.
Tiffany went on to pursue a law degree at Georgetown, as noted in her Instagram bio, further proving that she was determined to carve out her own path.
By 2018, her personal life took an exciting turn when she began dating Michael Boulos, the son of a wealthy Lebanese family with business ties in Nigeria.
The couple met at Lindsay Lohanâs club in Mykonos, Greece, and their romance quickly blossomed. Two years later, in January 2021, according to reports, Michael proposed in the White House Rose Garden with a $1.2 million diamond ring.
A year later, Tiffany shared another life milestone with the world. In November 2022, she married Michael in a grand ceremony at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. She later posted snapshots of the occasion on Instagram, calling it âthe most magical day.â
Despite the public nature of her wedding, Tiffany has remained relatively private about her relationship with her father. Over the years, rumors have circulated about possible tensions between them, but she has actively shut down speculation.

First Lady Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and Tiffany Trump with President Donald Trum after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. | Source: Getty Images
In January, she took to Instagram to commemorate Donaldâs second presidential inauguration, sharing, âAs we witness the inauguration of my father as the 47th President, letâs embrace the power of unity, innovation, and hope for a brighter tomorrow đ.â
âTogether, we are stronger, ready to face the challenges ahead and build a future that reflects the best of who we are,â the post continued.
In October 2024, Tiffanyâs father made a major announcement regarding her growing family. While speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Donald revealed that Tiffany was expecting her first child with Michael. During his remarks, he acknowledged Michaelâs father, Dr. Massad Boulos, who was in attendance.
âHe happens to be the father of Tiffanyâs husband, Michael, whoâs a very exceptional young guy,â Donald said. âAnd sheâs an exceptional young woman. And sheâs going to have a baby. So thatâs nice.â
Although Tiffany has not yet addressed her pregnancy publicly at the time, a spokesperson confirmed the news, making it clear that the former first daughter is preparing for yet another life-changing chapter.
From her childhood in California to her legal studies at Georgetown, marriage to Michael, and now expecting her first child, Tiffany has navigated life under the Trump name with grace.
Despite speculation about her relationship with Donald Trump, she has publicly shown support for him, proving that, no matter the distance or differences, family remains at the core of her story.