Ivana Trump, the first wife of Donald Trump, has died in New York City, the former president announced on social media Thursday.

In response to a call for cardiac arrest, Manhattan paramedics found a 73-year-old woman in the Upper East Side apartment where Ivana Trump lived just after 12:30 p.m, according to the FDNY. However, the family or officials haven’t released an official cause of death.

On Truth Social, Trump posted, “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. She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman who led a great and inspirational life. Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them, as we were all so proud of her. Rest In Peace, Ivana!”

The Trump family also released a statement saying, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Ivana Trump. Our mother was an incredible woman — a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and a caring mother and friend. Ivana Trump was a survivor.”

The statement continued, “She fled from communism and embraced this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion, and determination. She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children, and ten grandchildren.”

ivana trump
Lev Radin/Shutterstock.com

Trump, born Ivana Marie Zelníčková, was born on February 20, 1949, in Czechoslovakia, the daughter of an electrical engineer and a telephone operator. Growing up, Ivana was an avid skier and joined the junior national ski team, which gave her opportunities to leave the country. She graduated from Charles University in Prague and earned a Master’s degree in Physical Education in 1972.

In 1971, Ivana married an Austrian ski instructor to gain citizenship, allowing her to leave Czechoslovakia for a good while still being able to go back and visit her parents. Ivana and the ski instructor eventually divorced while he was teaching in Los Angeles. Ivana would move to Canada, where she was a ski instructor. While living in Montreal, she improved her English by taking night classes at McGill University and working as a model.

While working as a model in New York City in the early 70s, Ivana met former president Trump in 1976. The couple married in 1977; Ivana held many roles in the Trump family businesses throughout her life, working as a senior executive for seven years and the executive vice president of interior design. She also worked as the CEO and president of the Trump Castle Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. She and Donald share three children, Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric Trump.

Unfortunately, the couple divorced in 1992. Their marriage was subject to intense media scrutiny, particularly over his affair with the model Marla Maples, whom he married. After their divorce, Ivana developed several business ventures, including clothing lines, beauty products, and fashion jewelry sold through several TV shopping channels, including HSN and QVC London.

Ivana also wrote several books, including an autobiography in 2017 titled Raising Trump, detailing the early years of her life and her marriage to Donald Trump. Most people will remember Ivana as Trump’s wife, but she was a powerhouse of her own accord. Let’s keep the Trump family in our prayers during this difficult time.

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