Donald Trump Jr's wife Vanessa files for divorce
'After 12 years of marriage, we have decided to go our separate ways,' the couple says
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump's eldest son is getting a divorce.
Vanessa Haydon Trump filed paperwork seeking an uncontested divorce from Donald Trump Jr on Thursday. The two have been married since 2005 and have five children together.
“After 12 years of marriage, we have decided to go our separate ways," the couple said in a statement. "We will always have tremendous respect for each other and our families. We have five beautiful children together and they remain our top priority. We ask for your privacy during this time.”
The day before, New York gossip outlet Page Six reported Mr and Ms Trump were headed for a split, noting that they had been living "separate lives" of late. Two sources told the paper that Mr Trump “appears to have changed recently, and friends are concerned about him".
The pair recently made headlines when a package of white powder was mailed to their residence in New York City. Ms Trump, who was the first to open the package, was rushed to the hospital as a precaution. The contents were later deemed nonhazardous.
The couple first met in 2003, when Donald Trump spied the future Ms Trump – then Vanessa Haydon – at a fashion show. The pair engaged in awkward conversation and didn't hit it off right away, Ms Trump later told the New York Times. It wasn't until six weeks later, when a mutual friend introduced them at a birthday party, that the sparks flew.
The couple were married in 2005 at the elder Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort – the same place he married his wife, Melania, that same year.
Life became more complicated for the pair after Mr Trump's father was sworn in last year. To avoid conflicts of interest, Donald Trump left control of his flagship company – the Trump Organisation – to his two sons. The younger Mr Trump now leads the organisation with his brother, Eric.
And while he is supposed to remain separate from the White House as an employee of the Trump Organisation, Mr Trump has nevertheless found himself embroiled in a number of his father's political scandals.
This summer, for instance, the New York Times reported that Mr Trump had arranged a meeting with Russian sources who promised to provide "dirt" on Hillary Clinton during his father's campaign.
Mr Trump has said the meeting was innocent, and denied ever colluding with a foreign government.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments