Donald Trumpโsย big family is known for being tight-knit and full of colorful personalities. Among them is his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, whoโs recently been gaining attention.
Kai was quick to congratulate her grandpa when he secured another shot at the White House โ and it wasnโt just a typical gesture of family loyalty. Their bond seems to go deeper than that.
While Kai has mostly stayed out of the spotlight in the past, her relationship with her grandpa, Donald, is one thatโs clearly filled with love and respect.
So, who is Kai Trump really, and whatโs it like being the granddaughter of one of the most prominent figures in America?
Kai Trump arrived like a real Trump
Kai Madison Trump is the first child of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife, Vanessa, making her the eldest grandchild of Donald Trumpโs 10 grandchildren.
Born on May 12, 2007, in New York, she was named after her maternal grandfather, Kai Ewans, a Danish jazz musician.
The story goes that Vanessa went into labor at a charity benefit in the city, and Kai, eager to meet the world, arrived two weeks early โ just like a true Trump!
She weighed in at 6 pounds and 14 ounces.
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Donald Trump Jr. was all smiles as he spoke toย Peopleย magazine from the hospital, saying, โEveryoneโs great.โ
As for Donald Trump himself, he was warming up to the idea of being a grandpa.
โItโs not something I had necessarily in mind, but it feels very nice,โ he toldย New York Postย after the news of Kaiโs arrival broke.
Growing up in New York, Kai and her uncleย Barron Trumpย are close in age โ just 14 months apart โ so they spent a lot of time together. Quite the Trump duo, right?
Although Kai was born and raised in the Big Apple, she now resides in Jupiter, Florida, with her mother.
Out of the spotlight
In the early years of her upbringing, there wasnโt much public attention.
Kai wasnโt often mentioned in the media, and one of the first public photos of her surfaced in 2014.
At just six years old, she was spotted at the second annual Invitational Grand Prix at the Mar-a-Lago Club, where she was captured on camera filming country star Hunter Hayes as he performed for the crowd before the event began.
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As Donald Trump ramped up his campaign in 2016, Kai made a return to the spotlight, appearing in official family photos.
Before running for president, Donald Trump had placed his children in key roles within his company and television empire. However, they maintained a more low-key presence during his first presidential campaign.
As political expert Redd Galen, who worked on George Bushโs campaigns, put it: โWhen it comes to Trumpโs family, I donโt think any of them really understood the full force of what a presidential campaign can bring to bear on a person.โ
Speaking in 2024
While Kai Trump kept a very low profile in 2016, she made a much stronger impression in 2024. For example, she was introduced by her father and spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention on July 17.
It was on the third day of the convention that Kai took the stage to share with America what her grandfather is really like.
โThe media makes my grandpa seem like a different person. But I know him for who he is. He is very caring and loving. He truly wants the best for this country. And he will fight every single day to make America great again,โ she said.
In her first-ever speech, Kai also shared that the theย president-electย is โjust a normal grandpa.โ โHe gives us candy and soda when our parents arenโt looking,โ the teen revealed.
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Kai also mentioned that her grandfather always checks in on how his grandkids are โdoing in school.โ She recalled, โWhen I made the high honor roll, he printed it out to show his friends how proud he was of me.โ
Many people felt that Kai made a very natural and impressive impression during her speech โ but in reality, she was quite nervous, something she admitted afterwards.
โThere were a lot more people than I expected, for sure. I didnโt think it was going to be that much,โ sheย confessedย in an interview with Grant Horvat.
Kaiโs reaction to grandpa being shot
Donald and Kai share a truly special bond, and one of the most emotional moments theyโve shared together was at the RNC.
For Kai, her speech was far more than just a public event โ it was a deeply personal and powerful experience.
โIt was really special for both of us,โ Kai shared, reflecting on the moment.
โIt was right after he was shot, and it was the first time Iโd seen him since. That was really special. Like, we got a little teary-eyed both of us. Iโll never forget that,โ Kai said.
Shares the love of golf
Kai Trumpโs love for golf is undeniable, and it seems sheโs following in some pretty impressive footsteps.
After moving to South Florida at the age of 13, Kai found herself right at home at The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach.
This school is known for producing some golf royalty, with famous golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman sending their kids there. Not to mention, Charlie Woods, Tiger Woodsโ son, is also part of the schoolโs golf scene and helped the varsity team score a state title as a freshman.
But itโs not just school golf th
โI am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Miami,โ Kai wrote in the caption. โI would like to thank my mom, Vanessa, and my dad, Don, for always supporting me through my journey. I would also like to thank my great team for getting me to this point.โ
Kai didnโt forget to thank her grandfather, Donald Trump, in her post either.
โI would like to thank my grandpa for giving me access to great courses and tremendous supportโฆ โ
Intense battles with grandpa
Kai Trump clearly spends a lot of time on the golf course with her grandfather.
Her Instagram is full of snaps of the two of them swinging clubs and sharing laughs on the green. But whatโs really going down on those fairways?
Well, according to Kai, things get pretty intense when itโs her versus Grandpa. Speaking toย YouTuber Grant Horvatย in July, she joked about how the competition is fierce when they play together.
โItโs aย stiffย competition,โ she said with a grin, hinting that Donald Trump isnโt exactly the type to let his grandkid win, even if she is family!
โGenuinely, he always gives me a run for my money. Itโs pretty close,โย she said.
โItโs never really like game over, and Iโve won on the 15th hole. He wins a lot of the time. I do have to say that. Iโve got to get better.โ
Never changed
In the video with Grant Horvat, Kai took on a stroke play golf match at Trump National in Jupiter, FL.
Naturally, many were curious to hear what she might reveal about her famous grandfather, but what really caught attention was how genuine and down-to-earth Kai comes across.
The YouTube clip offered a great glimpse into her personality.
One viewer commented, โLovely to see that Kai is so normal and level-headed, especially considering the pressure of being from such a famous family.โ
Posted byย Kai Trumpย onย Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Another added, โSuch a joy to see a normal teen girl! Genuine, polite, no yelling, and able to express her feelings without throwing a fit. She can actually converse!โ
Perhaps her calm demeanor can be explained by the fact that growing up in the spotlight has always been normal for Kai.
โItโs never really changed who I am. Iโm still very grounded; itโs all Iโve known my whole life,โ she said.
Is she going into politics?
At the same time, Kai has always preferred to keep a low profile.
For those who arenโt too familiar with her and might catch her last name, Kai can live a pretty anonymous life without being immediately associated with her powerful family.
โI fit in with everyone else. You would not know at all and like thatโs the way I like to keep itโ, she explains.
But after her speech at the Republican National Convention, everything changed.
Her phone was blowing up, and suddenly she was in the headlines, especially after her grandfather, Donald Trump, won the election. Of course, she congratulated him, andย it seems they get together often, judging by the pictures on Kaiโs Instagram.
However, in the interview with Grant Horvat, Kai made it clear that politics is not her thing (at least, not yet). Sheโs focused on her golf career and aims to become a professional.
Photos of them
When you look closely at photos of Kai Trump with her grandfather, Donald Trump, itโs hard to miss the deep bond they share.
I never fully realized how close they are until I started paying more attention to their pictures together. Thereโs something special about the way they interact, something that speaks volumes even without words.
Whether itโs a warm smile, a shared joke, or simply being present with one another, these moments capture a genuine connection between them. Take a look at this one below โ itโs a perfect example of their undeniable closeness!
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Whether sheโs on the green with her famous grandfather or standing before a national stage, sheโs grounded, humble, and determined to stay true to herself.
As she looks ahead to her future with the University of Miamiโs womenโs golf team, itโs clear Kaiโs story is just beginning โ and something tells me that weโll definitely be seeing a lot more of this talented young woman in the futureโฆ
t Kai excels in.
Earlier this year, she won the ladiesโ club championship at Trumpโs golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, showing sheโs a serious competitor.
โGolf has always been a massive part of my life and is my biggest passion. I always aspire to be a leader and a positive figure on and off the golf course,โ Kaiโsย SportsRecruits biographyย states.
Going to Miami University
Thereโs no doubt that Kai Trump is serious about pursuing a career in golf.
Her Instagram account,ย kaitrumpgolfer, makes it clear that she identifies as a golfer, at least on social media.
In August 2024, she shared some more exciting news with her followers โ the 17-year-old announced her commitment to the University of Miamiโs womenโs golf team.
