Tiffany Trump’s wedding brings together a divided family

() — After three days under a hurricane watch, Tiffany Trump breathed a sigh of relief.

The weather in Palm Beach, Florida, was finally getting better and the forecast for their wedding day Saturday looks sunny and warm. Two people familiar with the bride-to-be’s state of mind told that Donald Trump’s youngest daughter, his only daughter with second wife Marla Maples, had been “stressed out” by the storm and what it could mean for her celebration. at Mar-a-Lago with Michael Boulos, 25, her boyfriend of four years.

But even though Tropical Cyclone Nicole is receding, the Trumps may still face some tumult over the weekend. The family comes together as their patriarch moves toward a presidential run in 2024, a prospect that doesn’t excite everyone in the family. Some of them say they don’t want to get too involved, or at all, sources close to the family tell .

Three people familiar with the former president’s activities say he is not in the best mood. Many of the high-profile candidates he endorsed in the midterms failed to win, and now some Republicans are talking about his losing influence over the party. Trump is “cranky”, says one of them.

Right now, according to people familiar, Trump is more focused on his “special announcement” on Tuesday, when he may or may not announce his planned third run for president. His mind is consumed by the political landscape of 2024 and where and how he will fit into it.

But first he has to fulfill another job: being the father of the bride.

Trump often likes to be the center of attention at his private club, which is also his residence, but only if it’s for congratulations or if he’s in the mood for praise. Preparations for Tiffany’s big day have been tough, and as the skies clear and her guests head to Mar-a-Lago, sources say the former president is low-key.

Two people familiar with Trump’s state of mind say he has also been at odds with his wife, Melania Trump, after a post-Election Day news report said she took the brunt of his anger after the defeat of Dr. Mehmet Oz in his candidacy for the United States Senate. The New York Times newspaper reported that Donald Trump reproached Melania Trump for her support of the doctor famous on television; During a rally this year, he mentioned that his wife was a huge Oz fan.

Being in a story is not something the ultra-private Melania Trump enjoys, and Trump was quick to apologize to her on Truth Social for what he called “made up” stories about her involvement. The damage, however, say the two people, was done. Also, everyone walks away from the ex-president when he’s in a bad mood, including his wife. contacted a spokesperson for the former president.

And since this is a wedding, it is not possible to avoid family members entirely. Tiffany Trump maintains a close relationship with all of her half-siblings, according to informed sources. Although she was often referred to as Trump’s “forgotten daughter” during the White House years, when older sister Ivanka Trump was in the spotlight, Tiffany, who graduated from Georgetown Law in 2020, maintains a close relationship with her older sister. Ivanka was in attendance last weekend at Tiffany’s bridal shower at a friend’s house in Palm Beach, a celebration that included a tiered Tiffany blue cake with her mother, Marla Maples, and her stepmother. her, Melania Trump. has contacted a spokesperson for Tiffany Trump for comment.

Ivanka and Tiffany Trump remain close, but elsewhere the family dynamic has been changing over the past two years. Ivanka’s interactions with her father have changed since they both left the White House. Now that he lives in Miami, Ivanka doesn’t miss Washington, “by no means,” says one of several people who spoke to on condition of anonymity to preserve personal and professional relationships with the family. contacted a spokesperson for Ivanka Trump and did not hear back.

The role of senior adviser to the president is not one that Ivanka Trump wishes to resurrect.

“(Ivanka) would never go back to that life,” says one of the people familiar with her thinking. “She knows it’s not something that works for her or her family right now.”

Another person says that Ivanka was “done” with Washington “since the day she left” and that “hasn’t changed.” A third person argues that if Ivanka had any interest in getting back into politics, people would have seen her on the campaign trail, driving candidates for the midterm elections. However, she did not make any public appearances or endorsements, despite requests to participate from some of those in close races, says a person familiar with the matter.

Everyone who spoke to says that Ivanka Trump’s life is centered around her three young children.

Although he may not yet have had direct discussions with Donald Trump about his lack of interest in a second run for the White House, he is aware that any bid would not include his daughter in attendance, says one of the people with knowledge of family discussions.

Trump would also not have the presence of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, formerly Trump’s guardian in the White House and one of the most connected and influential voices in his government.

“Jared has no intention of joining the campaign and getting involved again,” says a source familiar with Kushner’s plans. contacted a spokesperson for Jared Kushner and did not hear back.

The person maintains that Kushner has a good relationship with his father-in-law and that he “strives to be with (Trump),” but said he wouldn’t do much more than offer advice should Trump run again.

“I’m sure (Jared) will be tested in numerous different ways, he is his father-in-law, but with that being said, he would be a far cry from helping the way he helped before,” the person said. Kushner, who now runs a private equity firm, has “grown over” the past few years in a way that Trump hasn’t.

Trump is presumably aware of his wife, Ivanka and Jared’s lack of interest in campaigning. Melania Trump barely campaigned for her husband during her first run for the White House and she held only three solo campaign rallies on her behalf before the 2020 election.

There is no indication that Melania Trump will change her habits and actively participate in any upcoming campaign. “Never say never” was all she said when she was asked during a interview in may if I could live in the White House again. In Ohio last week, during a JD Vance rally, where it was rumored that Trump might announce his latest presidential bid, there were only four chairs set out for the Trump family. They were designated for Eric and Lara Trump and for Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Donald Trump Jr. sends different signals to his friends. “Of course!” is the response of a person familiar with Don Jr.’s thinking when asked if Trump’s son will campaign on his behalf, should he announce his candidacy next week. Don Jr. has none of the misgivings his stepmother, his sister and his brother-in-law have about another Trump presidency.

“She’s going out to campaign for her father,” the person said. contacted a spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr., with no response.

Don Jr. is Trump’s closest family adviser right now. Unlike his presidential years, when Ivanka and Jared were his inner circle, Don Jr. has emerged as a key figure in the future of “Trumpian” politics. But that’s not to say Don Jr. wants to fill Jared and Ivanka’s shoes.

“He doesn’t want the backstage role of Jared,” the source says, adding that Don Jr. isn’t swayed by Trump’s micromanagement. “When (Don Jr.) has strong opinions about something involving his father, he has no problem saying them out loud,” the person says, citing Don Jr.’s insistence that Trump not announce his candidacy before the midterm elections. “It just didn’t make sense to him.”

Opinions and appearances will be in Don Jr.’s best interest should his father run again, but Trump’s eldest son will put the limit on a defined job description.

“He’s not going to be the shadow campaign manager or anything,” says the source, adding that Don Jr. is also focused on his five children, his publishing company and the “hunt.”

Eric Trump, and probably more so his wife, Lara Trump, a frequent guest in the conservative media, will drop Don Jr.’s level of involvement in a Trump second act lower than Ivanka and Jared’s.

Most people who have spoken to say the family division over their patriarch’s political plans is not a cause for concern: Tiffany Trump won’t change the seating arrangement to ward off the pro-law faction. campaign you are against. Mar-a-Lago, closed by the storm until 6pm this Friday, will reopen in time for Tiffany’s wedding to Boulos, the son of a wealthy businessman who owns several companies in Nigeria.

At the wedding there will be no place for fights or power games. “It’s going to be a day where it’s all about Tiffany,” says a person familiar with the event, which is rumored to be a million-dollar affair.

“They get along very well,” says one of the people who spends time with the brothers, adding that politics and her father aren’t always what they talk about when they get together. “Believe it or not, they’re a pretty normal family.”