Inside Melania’s Private Warning to Vanessa Trump About Trump Jr.: ‘The Trump Men Are the Same’

New details have emerged about the strained 12-year marriage between Vanessa Trump and Donald Trump Jr., including an unexpected piece of advice allegedly given to Vanessa by former First Lady Melania Trump. Sources claim that Melania once cautioned Vanessa against dedicating too much of her time to Trump Jr., advising her, “The Trump men are the same — vain and power-hungry.”

The conversation reportedly occurred after Vanessa approached Melania for advice in the wake of Trump Jr.’s affair. According to a source cited by US Weekly, Melania warned Vanessa that she would never be a top priority in her husband’s life, adding that giving Trump Jr. an ultimatum could backfire, as his “thirst for power” would take precedence.

Melania’s private advice seems to contrast starkly with her public persona of unwavering support for the Trump family. Publicly, Melania has often displayed loyalty to her husband and the Trump brand. In a 2016 interview with Fox News, she praised Donald Trump as a leader, and during the same year, she told Joe Scarborough on MSNBC that she shared an extraordinary relationship with him.

However, her comments to Vanessa suggest she may hold a more nuanced view behind closed doors. Though Melania rarely joined Donald on the campaign trail, she stood by his side throughout his 2016 campaign, showing a united front that may not entirely reflect her personal beliefs.

The dynamic between Trump Jr. and Vanessa faced additional challenges due to Trump Jr.’s well-publicized affair with singer Aubrey O’Day in 2012. The affair, which played a significant role in the eventual dissolution of his marriage, saw O’Day reportedly believing that she and Trump Jr. were “soulmates.”

According to People, she later admitted, “We both thought we were each other’s soulmates,” though her perspective has since shifted. The affair deeply affected Vanessa, who reportedly experienced jealousy and strong emotions upon learning about it. Nonetheless, the couple remained together for several more years before their eventual divorce, with infidelity cited as only one of the factors in their split.

Another source claimed that Trump Jr. exercised strict control over their finances, allegedly keeping Vanessa on a tight budget and treating her as a “second-class citizen.” Vanessa, however, has kept quiet following their divorce, offering little insight into their past relationship.

According to Business Insider, Vanessa and Trump Jr.’s relationship began in 2003 when they met at a fashion show. Six weeks later, they crossed paths again at a mutual friend’s party, where they realized after an hour of conversation that they had already met once before. At the time, Vanessa was a model and actress, with a small role in Something’s Gotta Give.

Before her marriage to Trump Jr., Vanessa briefly made headlines in 1998 for her relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio, making her a fixture in tabloids for a time. Since their divorce, Vanessa has largely stayed out of the limelight, while Trump Jr., now engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, continues to garner significant media attention.

Melania’s alleged warning to Vanessa, along with Vanessa’s own silent departure from the marriage, offers a rare glimpse into the complexities within the Trump family, suggesting that their private dynamics may differ from the public image they project.