From Barron to Kai: a who’s who of Trump’s family - and the roles they could play

Donald is not the only Trump back in the picture after his election win.

On Tuesday night, members of the former and future president’s family posed with him at his Florida estate in celebration of his re-election. “Dad, we are so proud of you,” wrote Tiffany, Trump’s younger daughter, posting the photo on X. It was also shared by his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai, captioned: “The whole squad.”

Notably absent was the former first lady, Melania. However, the happy family shot did include Elon Musk – not a blood relative but surely now loved by the president-elect like a son – who was holding X-AE-AXii, the most absurdly named of his own 12 children.

Given the prominent roles, official and unofficial, held by Trump’s children and their spouses in his first administration, it is a safe bet that family members will be front and centre in his second. Here is a reminder of the characters likely to feature in the Trump dynasty, season two.

Melania Trump

Melania Trump at a rally in Madison Square Garden on 27 October. She is expected to resume her role as first lady when her husband takes office. Photograph: Carlos Barría/Reuters

Who knows the true nature of the relationship between Trump and his third wife – even the late Queen Elizabeth, according to her biographer Craig Brown, assumed they “must have some sort of arrangement”. Melania was largely absent from the campaign trail, appearing only briefly at the Republican national convention (RNC) in July. The 54-year-old calls New York, where their son Barron is at university, her home, while her husband has been based at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. In recent months, she was arguably more visible in promoting her own memoir, in which she advocated for abortion rights.

But while some wondered if the marriage would crumble once Trump was out of office in 2020, she was by his side as he greeted supporters after his win, and is expected to resume her constitutional role as first lady.

Donald Trump Jr

Some people believe that Donald Trump Jr could have an eye on a political future of his own. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Trump’s oldest son has been a significant figure behind the scenes of his father’s campaign, building a close connection to the Maga electoral base.

Don Jr, who is the executive vice-president of the Trump Organization and hosts a podcast, Triggered, is credited with helping his friend JD Vance secure the VP nomination, and some argue he could be the power behind the throne of the new administration.

He has been closely involved in his father’s transition team and there is inevitable speculation he could be given a prominent role – perhaps with an eye on a political future of his own.

Ivanka Trump

Although Ivanka Trump played an important role in her father’s previous administration, she said in 2022 that she would not be taking a future role in politics. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Trump’s older daughter was highly visible during his first administration, even being given the official title of “first daughter and adviser to the president”. But she has been entirely absent this time – her appearance with the family on Tuesday was her first of the entire campaign.

Once described as Trump’s favourite child, Ivanka has testified that she did not believe her father’s false claim that the 2020 election was “stolen”, and in 2022 said in a statement that while she loved her father, “this time around, I am choosing to prioritise my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics.”

Jared Kushner

Jared Kushner was a senior adviser during his father-in-law’s first term as president but is unlikely to reprise such a major role. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Ivanka’s husband, once a Democrat, was integral to his father-in-law’s 2016 presidential campaign and was appointed a senior adviser during Trump’s first term, helping shape the administration’s Middle East policies.

Since 2020 the real estate investor and former publisher of the New York Observer has concentrated on his $3bn investment fund, Affinity Partners. It is heavily backed by the Saudi government’s public investment fund, which has led to questions from the Senate finance committee.

He is reported to have ruled out joining the new administration but could advise on foreign affairs.

Eric Trump

Eric Trump has been a loyal cheerleader for his father on the campaign trail this time around. Photograph: Chris Szagola/AP

Though he has generally had a lower profile than his older brother, Don Jr, concentrating instead on the family’s business and real estate firm, Trump’s second son supported him in person during his fraud court hearings earlier this year and was a loyal cheerleader on the campaign trail.

Lara Trump

Lara Trump was appointed a co-chair of the Republican national committee earlier this year by her father-in-law. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Eric’s wife since 2014 and mother of their two children, the former TV producer has described having a political “awakening” when her father-in-law was first elected in 2016 and has moved increasingly into positions of influence. Earlier this year Trump installed Lara as co-chair of the Republican national committee, reportedly telling her: “I need someone I can trust.”

Asked about speculation that she may consider running for office herself one day, she has said: “Never say never with a Trump.”

Tiffany Trump

Tiffany Trump has kept a low profile since her father entered politics. Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

Trump’s fourth child, Tiffany, whose mother is his second wife, Marla Maples, has been a loyal if lower-profile family member during his campaign. She recently announced her first pregnancy with her husband, Michael Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman.

Barron Trump

Barron Trump has been credited with urging his father to target the ‘bro vote’. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump’s son with Melania, after spending some of his early teenage years living at the White House, is now 18 and studying business at New York University. Though still young, Barron has been credited as being an important influence on his father’s campaign by urging him to target the “bro vote” through interviews with popular podcasters.

Increased visibility has also brought a focus on his 6ft 7in height, which his father has credited to the attentions of his Slovenian maternal grandmother, Amalija Knavs: “Boy, did she take care of Barron … That’s how he got so tall – only ate her food.”

Kimberly Guilfoyle

Kimberly Guilfoyle, engaged to Donald Trump Jr, has been an outspoken critic of Harris on the campaign trail. Photograph: Christopher Dolan/AP

A former Fox News presenter (and former San Francisco prosecutor alongside Kamala Harris), she has been engaged to Donald Jr since 2020, after his 2018 divorce from his first wife, Vanessa, the mother of his five children.

Guilfoyle was previously married to the Democratic mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, but was an outspoken critic of Harris on the campaign trail, hinting at a highly personal animus.

Kai Trump

Kai Trump, 17, spoke about her grandfather at the Republican national convention in July. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

The eldest of Donald Jr’s five children, Kai, 17, addressed the RNC in July, saying of her grandfather: “To me, he’s just a normal grandpa … He gives us candy and soda when our parents aren’t looking.

“When we play golf together, if I’m not on his team, he’ll try to get inside of my head, and he’s always surprised I don’t let him get to me. But I have to remind him, I’m a Trump, too.”