Ivana Trump dead at 73: former president Donald Trump pays tribute to ex-wife’s ‘great, inspirational life’
Former US president leads the tributes to his ex-wife and mother of Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka, who died in New York.
Donald Trump’s first wife, Ivana, has died unexpectedly at age 73 in New York City.
The Czech-born former model, businesswoman, and mother of three of Mr Trump’s adult children – Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka – passed away after a cardiac arrest in her home in the Upper East Side on Thursday (Friday AEST).
“I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City,” the former president wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform.
“She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life.”
Born Ivana Marie Zelnickova, in Zlin in communist Czechoslovakia, Mrs Trump – she kept her former husband’s surname – moved to the US in the 1970s after studying and working in Canada. She married Mr Trump in 1977, the same year Don Jr, the couple’s first child, was born.
“Our mother was an incredible woman – a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend,” Eric Trump said in a statement announcing her death on behalf of his siblings Ivanka and Don. “She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children and ten grandchildren.”
Mrs Trump, who developed a clothing and cosmetics range branded in her own name, married twice after divorcing Mr Trump in 1992 – first in 1995 to an Italian count Roffredo Gaetani di Laurenzana dell’Aquila d’Aragona Lovatelli, who died in 2005, and then again in 2008 to Italian actor Rossano Rubicondi, 23 years her junior. He died unexpectedly at 49.
In a memorable cameo appearance in the 1996 film First Wives Club, she quipped: “Ladies, be strong and independent, and remember, don’t get mad, get everything.”
She reportedly maintained use of Mr Trump’s Florida mansion Mar a Lago for one month a year, as part of her divorce settlement.
Mrs Trump, who held executive positions in the Trump family company, and her second husband Mr Trump spoke regularly and reports says they apparently remained on good terms despite their highly publicised divorce.
Mrs Trump’s father also died unexpectedly of a heart attack at 63 in 1990.
Her death comes as Mr Trump reportedly considers announcing his plan to run for president in 2024.
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