Incredible story of how treasure trove of photos of a doting Donald Trump along with his youngsters was practically misplaced endlessly
He’s cultivated a larger-than-life public image as an ambitious businessman, billionaire real estate developer, and more recently, the leader of the free world.
But long before becoming the Republican firebrand he is today, intimate family photos show Donald Trump was your quintessential, all-American family man devoted to his wife and three children.
The rare images offer an unprecedented look at the softer, more personal side of the often polarizing political and business figure who is now set to begin his second term as president following his stunning election victory earlier this month.
Initially long lost and discarded, DailyMail.com has resurrected the remarkable treasure trove of Trump memorabilia – containing roughly 1,000 personal photographs of the family – after it was apparently dumped in a suitcase by Trump’s first wife Ivana over a decade ago.
They show Donald not just as a businessman, but as a hands-on, affectionate father—someone who not only lavished his children with gifts, but also spent quality time with them in a way we’ve never seen before.
The photos capture candid moments spanning decades — from family birthday celebrations and vacations with little Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, to tender snapshots of Trump doting on his newborn children as a first-time dad.
One standout image that comes from Don Jr.’s baby album dated December 31, 1977, shows a sleepy but attentive Trump napping with his namesake first-born in bed.
The series of grainy but heartwarming pictures also depict core memories from the Trump siblings’ happy childhood such as bath time, birthday parties, ski trips, summers in Mar-a-Lago, and dressing up for Halloween.
Unearthed family photos show Donald Trump as a hands-on, affectionate father—someone who not only lavished his children with gifts, but also spent quality time with them in a way we’ve never seen before. In this intimate family picture he is seen cradling daughter Ivanka at a birthday party
The treasure trove of Trump memorabilia, including roughly 1,000 photographs of president-elect and his family and friends found its way into a thrift shop and then to a collector nearly a decade ago – before being resurrected by DailyMail.com
Birthdays were a special family affair in the Trump household, with photos showing Trump doting on his kids at their birthday parties through the years. He is pictured with little Ivanka in an undated snap
They also speak to the devoted dad’s special bond with his first daughter, Ivanka, who appeared to develop a taste for the finer things in life at a young age, as she is seen dressed in stylish dresses and outfits and being lavished with expensive gifts.
In some photos Ivanka, now 43, is seen posing in glamorous matching red outfits with her late mother and even holding up a luxury pearl necklace she was likely gifted by her parents on her birthday.
The former first daughter has legendary close relationship with her father, whom she went on to follow to the boardroom at the Trump Organization, to the television set of NBC’s ‘The Apprentice,’ and onto 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue during his first term in office.
Speaking to the RNC in 2016, she said it was her father who ‘taught my siblings and me the importance of positive values and a strong ethical compass.’
The family pictures mainly span the decades of the 1970s through the 1990s – before second wife Marla Maples and third and current spouse Melania came into the picture
The look of love: First-time dad Donald is clearly smitten with his children, here with his first born Don Jr.
In another remarkable shot showing Trump’s soft side, the sleepy dad is pictured adjusting to fatherhood as he snuggles with his baby Don Jr. in bed in 1977
A standout image that comes from Don Jr.’s baby album dated December 31, 1977, shows first-time dad Trump smitten with his first-born and even changing diapers
And while there’s no doubt the Trump siblings enjoyed a privileged and comfortable upbringing, their birthday parties seemed to be relatively modest affairs, with no imported circuses and extravagant entertainment, according to the snapshots.
Photos from Ivanka’s birthday parties through the years show the blonde tot – dressed in frilly 90s-style party dress – cutting into a simple but vibrant chocolate birthday cake topped with strawberries.
It was a similar affair for her older brother Don Jr., whose birthday falls on New Year’s Eve, which the Trump family traditionally celebrates by throwing a massive bash at the patriarch’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
But the childhood pictures show the family still made sure to give some special attention to the eldest Trump heir, who can be seen half-toothed, blonde, and dressed in a suit and rainbow bowtie alongside a cake reading, ‘Happy Birthday Donnie!’
His public image as an ambitious businessman is a striking contrast to the private photos of him as a loving, attentive father at home. Here is pictured with baby Don Jr.
The snaps also capture Trump as your average all-American dad, relaxing in his robe and loungewear, as opposed to his business suits, through the years
The album commemorates the Trumps’ time as a happy family of five consisting of little Don Jr., Eric, and Ivanka, and their parents
Another sweet snap shows Ivanka and younger brother Eric posing alongside their older brother as he holds up his cake on his birthday years later.
The intimate family pictures mainly span the decades of the 1970s through the 1990s – before second wife Marla Maples and third and current spouse Melania.
There are also pictures of the young Trump family on skiing holidays – Donald donning a cap in one; ice skating outings; Ivana in all manner of outfits from that era-and rare shots of her when she wasn’t hair hopping, but wore her golden tresses in a down do.
In one extraordinary photo, Donald can be seen wearing a white robe while snuggling close with one of his young children in bed. And in yet another personal shot, he is even seen changing diapers.
Photos from Ivanka’s birthday parties through the years show the blonde tot – dressed in a frilly, 90s-style, party dress – cutting into a simple but vibrant chocolate birthday cake topped with strawberries
Skiing was a big part of the family’s activities. Donald and Ivana show off little Ivanka, clearly too young to take to the slopes
The family albums also capture how the parents doted on their only daughter Ivanka through the years, lavishing her with gifts on her birthday
It seems Ivanka developed an expensive taste early on in her life as she is shown holding up a pearl necklace she was gifted for her birthday one year. She was also very fashion forward as a child, donning stylish party dresses for every special occasion
The rare private pictures paint a humanizing and refreshing portrait of the father of five that is rarely seen in the public eye.
They also depict a happier time for the family-of-five, before the couple’s marriage ended in divorce in 1992 and an ugly public battle between Ivana and his 15-years-younger mistress.
Donald married Ivana in 1977 and had their three children, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump before the then-businessman began an affair with model Marla Maples in 1989.
Their love seemed to radiate throughout the early stages of their relationship, with these family photos showing them cozied up together at dinners, posing with their kids.
On his birthday one year, the eldest Trump heir – then blond – was snapped flashing a half-toothed smile and dressed in a suit and rainbow bowtie alongside a cake reading ‘Happy Birthday Donnie!’
The young Trump siblings are seen all dressed up while celebrating older brother Don Jr.’s birthday one year
A young Ivanka is seen matching with her glamorous mother Ivana in stylish red outfits during one special occasion in Mar-a-Lago
The series of grainy but heartwarming pictures also depict core memories from the Trump siblings’ happy childhood such as bath time (Don Jr. and Ivanka pictured right) with each other, birthday parties, and family trips
The suitcase was acquired by a South Florida collector around 2014 and laid fallow until being resurrected by DailyMail.com years later, when Trump was making his first bid for president.
The collector, who requested anonymity, told DailyMail.com in 2016 that she happened upon the items at a thrift shop, now shuttered, that benefited a local animal league.
She suspected that Ivana or an assistant brought the items into the shop when she downsized to a condo.
‘I’ve always been fascinated by bygone eras and Old World society lifestyles,’ the collector remarked at the time.
‘Needless to say I was surprised by what I had come across when I opened the plain boxes, which in addition to Trump family photos, included newspaper and magazine clippings about the family and its projects, society page write-ups, as well as household items like bed linens.
The striking photographs show Donald like he’s never, or at the very least rarely, ever been seen before
The three Trump siblings appear to have grown up in a loving home where holidays and special occasions were always a memorable family affair
Donald had it made in the shade, and relaxing in the sunshine of his Palm Beach property Mar-a-Lago, now worth $250million
‘By no stretch of the imagination was it filled with anything ordinary. On the contrary, it was a small treasure trove that chronicled a devoted family man, whom I consider a great American success story.
‘When I got the material home and after looking through it, I left it stored and untouched until Donald announced his run for the presidency,’ she added.
‘As a woman and a huge supporter of Mr. Trump’s campaign, at a time of so much negativity and divisiveness not only emblematic of the campaign but the world at large, I knew it would prove to be an important archive to show the candidate’s tender, human side as captured by the lens of his family life.’
She continued: ‘The world needs to see the love he has for his wife and children and the admiration this man has in many quarters, as it reflects his character.’
