Ivana Trump (1949-2022)
July 14, 2022 10:39 PM Subscribe
Ivana Trump (2/20/1949-7/14/2022), apparently due to cardiac arrest at her Manhattan apartment.
Growing up in Gottwaldov, Czechoslvakia, south of Prague, her father trained her in skiing, enrolling Ivana in 1961 in a very strict Communist training camp for child athletes. Ivana met and dated professional skier George Syrovatka while earning a master's in P.E. and languages at Charles University in Prague. She emigrated to Montreal and began modeling for Audrey Morris. She was sent to NYC to promote the Montreal Olympics, where she met Donald. The couple married in 1977, and had son Donald Jr. a year later, Ivanka in 1981, and Eric in 1984.
She did interior design for the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Trump Tower, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, and was CEO of some other locations.
(TW: rape/physical abuse description)
In Lost Tycoon, the author describes a fit of rage where, following a bald spot removal, Trump said "Your fucking doctor has ruined me!”; held back Ivana’s arms and began to pull out fistfuls of hair from her scalp; tore off her clothes, unzipped his pants, and assaulted her. In the morning, he asked, "Does it hurt?"
When asked in a deposition to describe it, Ivana demurred, saying only, "As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness, which he normally exhibited towards me, was absent. I referred to this as a 'rape,' but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense."
Trump dismissed the claim as "obviously false" and claimed he did not have such a surgery to begin with.
(TW: end)
After the couple's divorce in 1992, she appeared in a surprise cameo in The First Wives' Club, telling them "don't get mad, get everything".
Donald called her "a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life, whereas her son Eric wrote of how she was a "survivor" who "fled from Communism [... and] taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination."
In her book Too Much and Never Enough, niece Mary Trump wrote of how "Ivana was all flash, arrogance, and spite" and how she once offered to introduce Mary to Bob Guccione in his capacity as editor of Omni.
Growing up in Gottwaldov, Czechoslvakia, south of Prague, her father trained her in skiing, enrolling Ivana in 1961 in a very strict Communist training camp for child athletes. Ivana met and dated professional skier George Syrovatka while earning a master's in P.E. and languages at Charles University in Prague. She emigrated to Montreal and began modeling for Audrey Morris. She was sent to NYC to promote the Montreal Olympics, where she met Donald. The couple married in 1977, and had son Donald Jr. a year later, Ivanka in 1981, and Eric in 1984.
She did interior design for the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Trump Tower, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, and was CEO of some other locations.
(TW: rape/physical abuse description)
In Lost Tycoon, the author describes a fit of rage where, following a bald spot removal, Trump said "Your fucking doctor has ruined me!”; held back Ivana’s arms and began to pull out fistfuls of hair from her scalp; tore off her clothes, unzipped his pants, and assaulted her. In the morning, he asked, "Does it hurt?"
When asked in a deposition to describe it, Ivana demurred, saying only, "As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness, which he normally exhibited towards me, was absent. I referred to this as a 'rape,' but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense."
Trump dismissed the claim as "obviously false" and claimed he did not have such a surgery to begin with.
(TW: end)
After the couple's divorce in 1992, she appeared in a surprise cameo in The First Wives' Club, telling them "don't get mad, get everything".
Donald called her "a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life, whereas her son Eric wrote of how she was a "survivor" who "fled from Communism [... and] taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination."
In her book Too Much and Never Enough, niece Mary Trump wrote of how "Ivana was all flash, arrogance, and spite" and how she once offered to introduce Mary to Bob Guccione in his capacity as editor of Omni.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Framing an obituary around a graphic description of sexual assault is not Okay despite the Content Warning. -- loup
She gave me three beautiful children. Well she had good genes. We both did. Hers were very good, but so were mine. She probably got them from me. I knew a doctor, very famous doctor. He had a yacht, you don't need to know. He told me Sir, you have the best genes. People are saying it, it's what I hear. I mean I'm still here, what does that tell you? Perfect health. Anyhow, we all miss Marla.
posted by adept256 at 1:04 AM on July 15, 2022 [21 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 1:04 AM on July 15, 2022 [21 favorites]
Sometimes I think that people born into wealth are cursed. They are never truly happy.
posted by SPrintF at 1:26 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by SPrintF at 1:26 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Occupy Democrats gang sure riled up a hornet’s nest with their perfect tweet:
BREAKING: Ivana Trump, Donald’s first wife and the mother of the monstrous Ivanka, Don Jr, and Eric dies at age 73.
The replies are predictable but funny.
OD also point out that Donald is fundraising on the back of his ex-wife’s death. Stay classy.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 1:31 AM on July 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
BREAKING: Ivana Trump, Donald’s first wife and the mother of the monstrous Ivanka, Don Jr, and Eric dies at age 73.
The replies are predictable but funny.
OD also point out that Donald is fundraising on the back of his ex-wife’s death. Stay classy.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 1:31 AM on July 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
The better headline: Crime Family Matriarch "Falls Down Stairs"
posted by gimonca at 4:52 AM on July 15, 2022 [15 favorites]
posted by gimonca at 4:52 AM on July 15, 2022 [15 favorites]
I was thinking last night what it would feel like to know that after you die, people would be more interested in talking about the man you divorced 30 years ago, than you yourself. And how sad that is, even if you embraced that identity, that view of yourself, as Former Wife of Someone. To die having totally been eclipsed.
We have a contrast of how differently that can go, in Tammy Faye. Here was a woman who did all she could to differentiate herself from her past, and our culture--capriciously, maybe, amorally, maybe--chose to forgive her and celebrate her, even as her husband slid into cultural insignificance.
posted by mittens at 5:15 AM on July 15, 2022 [21 favorites]
We have a contrast of how differently that can go, in Tammy Faye. Here was a woman who did all she could to differentiate herself from her past, and our culture--capriciously, maybe, amorally, maybe--chose to forgive her and celebrate her, even as her husband slid into cultural insignificance.
posted by mittens at 5:15 AM on July 15, 2022 [21 favorites]
Well, at least now there's one less of those bastards.
posted by briank at 5:18 AM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by briank at 5:18 AM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
Metafilter: Stay classy.
posted by zengargoyle at 5:20 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by zengargoyle at 5:20 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
She just died? Wow. I didn’t know that. You are telling me now for the first time. She led an amazing life. What else can you say. Whether you agreed or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I am actually sad to hear that. I am sad to hear that.
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:20 AM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:20 AM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
I knew a doctor, very famous doctor. He had a yacht
"I should know, I'm a medical doctor. I own a mansion and a yacht"
posted by pullayup at 6:30 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
"I should know, I'm a medical doctor. I own a mansion and a yacht"
posted by pullayup at 6:30 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
I know there's monstrous evil in this world, but I don't think revelling in any losses of humanity is a good thing. No matter how much I want them to be utterly incapable of wielding power against better people ever again.
posted by Jacen at 6:48 AM on July 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Jacen at 6:48 AM on July 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
She just died? Wow. I didn’t know that. You are telling me now for the first time. She led an amazing life. What else can you say. Whether you agreed or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I am actually sad to hear that. I am sad to hear that.
In the background:
Ballerina...you must have seen her... dancing in the sand...
posted by fortitude25 at 6:51 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
In the background:
Ballerina...you must have seen her... dancing in the sand...
posted by fortitude25 at 6:51 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
I was thinking last night what it would feel like to know that after you die, people would be more interested in talking about the man you divorced 30 years ago, than you yourself.
And how, in Metafilter itself, a FULL THIRD of her obit is dedicated to a graphic description of sexual assault by said husband. It's a ghoulish and unacceptable choice, regardless of how you feel about Ivana or her legacy.
posted by mochapickle at 7:17 AM on July 15, 2022 [22 favorites]
And how, in Metafilter itself, a FULL THIRD of her obit is dedicated to a graphic description of sexual assault by said husband. It's a ghoulish and unacceptable choice, regardless of how you feel about Ivana or her legacy.
posted by mochapickle at 7:17 AM on July 15, 2022 [22 favorites]
.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:33 AM on July 15, 2022
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:33 AM on July 15, 2022
She is now protected from the Terrible Secret of Space.
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 7:48 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 7:48 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Ivana bragged, in 2017, that Donald Trump wouldn't be who he is today if it wasn't for her. She encouraged his Twitter habits. She stayed in touch with him weekly even after her reports of abuse.
I can't say I get it, but I can say that she was not a good person. No good person looks at Donald Trump and brags that they helped make him that way.
posted by toddforbid at 7:59 AM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
I can't say I get it, but I can say that she was not a good person. No good person looks at Donald Trump and brags that they helped make him that way.
posted by toddforbid at 7:59 AM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
I kind of want to borrow Melania's green jacket for this one...
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:01 AM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:01 AM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Let's all donate to the causes she would have hated most, in her memory.
posted by Jacen at 8:03 AM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Jacen at 8:03 AM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
Here's a Vanity Fair article from 1990, shortly after Donald and Ivana Trump bought Mar-a-Lago. It quotes her telling Dominick Dunne 'In fifty years Donald and I will be considered old money like the Vanderbilts.'
That's what she wanted most, and she didn't get it.
posted by box at 8:19 AM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
That's what she wanted most, and she didn't get it.
posted by box at 8:19 AM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Shout out to the public records enthusiast who had his request for all files documenting Ivana Trump's interactions with border control officers ready to be submitted once her death made them discoverable.
posted by Scram at 8:21 AM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Scram at 8:21 AM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
I know there's monstrous evil in this world, but I don't think revelling in any losses of humanity is a good thing. No matter how much I want them to be utterly incapable of wielding power against better people ever again.
Fortunately her passing was no loss to humanity
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:26 AM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Fortunately her passing was no loss to humanity
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:26 AM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
"This was the great mystery of Ivana...: She didn’t seem to hate her ex-husband. ...some certainly held out hope she would become a resistance figure... But she never fully landed that role. Instead, she defended Trump, remained his friend, and didn’t seem at all disturbed by the politician he became." (Natalie Shutler in Slate.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:36 AM on July 15, 2022
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:36 AM on July 15, 2022
Uh. What the fuck kind of post is this? I am no fan of any Trump but surely this woman’s life was defined by more than being raped by her husband? Have we all fallen so low? Glad I wasn’t the only one to bristle at the graphic description. Truly unnecessary in this context.
posted by sparringnarwhal at 8:47 AM on July 15, 2022 [16 favorites]
posted by sparringnarwhal at 8:47 AM on July 15, 2022 [16 favorites]
Wow, this just keeps getting grosser. Wtf, MeFi.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 9:15 AM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 9:15 AM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
"I should know, I'm a medical doctor. I own a mansion and a yacht"
"I am Elmer J. Fudd, millionaire. I own a mansion and a yacht."
posted by kirkaracha at 9:26 AM on July 15, 2022
"I am Elmer J. Fudd, millionaire. I own a mansion and a yacht."
posted by kirkaracha at 9:26 AM on July 15, 2022
when a person dies, maybe there are conventions about what we say, or don't say, re: the deceased
perhaps we observe concepts like 'civility' and 'decency' (etc)
some here are pointing to context with their comments. we can argue about what is appropriate, we can express disappointment that a tone was taken. The deceased's connection to a person who very nearly thwarted the electoral processes of the US, and who stands in the foreground poised to finish what they started, might elicit some strong words. and not even touching on the many, many, other glaringly wrong details. that an entire life was lived, and what?: "Don't get mad---Get everything"
we are all human.. who knows what prompts anger and spite, but don't assume it's all petty and unwarranted. the lives of these wealthy people, the children they raised to be very much like them, this will continue to cause a lot of hurt in the world.
posted by elkevelvet at 9:53 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
perhaps we observe concepts like 'civility' and 'decency' (etc)
some here are pointing to context with their comments. we can argue about what is appropriate, we can express disappointment that a tone was taken. The deceased's connection to a person who very nearly thwarted the electoral processes of the US, and who stands in the foreground poised to finish what they started, might elicit some strong words. and not even touching on the many, many, other glaringly wrong details. that an entire life was lived, and what?: "Don't get mad---Get everything"
we are all human.. who knows what prompts anger and spite, but don't assume it's all petty and unwarranted. the lives of these wealthy people, the children they raised to be very much like them, this will continue to cause a lot of hurt in the world.
posted by elkevelvet at 9:53 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
To those who are joining this thread: Several comments were deleted.
posted by mochapickle at 9:56 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mochapickle at 9:56 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:48 PM on July 14, 2022