Donald Trump’s Second Wife: Marla Maples Profile and Relationship Timeline

Introduction and Answer Summary

Donald Trump’s second wife is Marla Maples, an actress, television personality, and public figure who married Trump in 1993 and divorced in 1999. They share one child together, Tiffany Trump, born in 1993. This overview presents a verified timeline of their relationship, marriage, and post-divorce interactions, focusing on publicly documented facts rather than speculation. The details below synthesize reliable reporting to explain who Marla Maples is, how the relationship unfolded, and how it fits into Trump’s broader personal history.

Who Is Marla Maples?

Marla Maples is an American actress, singer, and television personality best known for her marriage to Donald Trump and her presence in tabloid coverage during the 1990s. Before marrying Trump, she appeared in films and television, including roles in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and the soap opera Days of Our Lives. She has also worked as a public speaker and author. Her public profile is closely tied to her high-profile relationship with Donald Trump, which drew significant media attention.

Timeline of Donald Trump and Marla Maples’ Relationship

The relationship between Donald Trump and Marla Maples began in the late 1980s, overlapped with Trump’s marriage to Ivana Trump, and led to marriage after his first divorce. Their timeline includes several notable public milestones, including the birth of their child, marriage, and eventual divorce, followed by continued co-parenting and media coverage.

Key Events and Dates

Date or Period	Event	Why It Matters
Late 1980s	Relationship begins	Marked the start of a high-profile affair while Trump was married to Ivana Trump
February 1990	Birth of Tiffany Trump	Their only child together; birth intensified media scrutiny and legal discussions around custody and paternity
December 1993	Marriage ceremony	Formalized their union publicly; occurred after Trump’s first divorce from Ivana was final
1996–1998	Separation and divorce process	High-profile divorce proceedings; highlighted financial and personal disputes common in high-net-worth separations
1999	Divorce finalized	Legal end of marriage; established co-parenting arrangements for Tiffany Trump

Marriage and Public Reception

The marriage between Donald Trump and Marla Maples was extensively covered by tabloids and mainstream media, often focusing on the spectacle of a wealthy businessman’s affairs and marriages. The ceremony took place at Trump’s private estate and was attended by select family and friends. Public reception was mixed, with some viewing the marriage as a personal chapter in Trump’s life and others interpreting it as emblematic of the era’s celebrity and media culture. The couple’s high profile amplified discussions around privacy, wealth, and the ethics of public relationships.

Post-Divorce Relationship and Co-Parenting

After their divorce, Trump and Maples maintained a co-parenting relationship centered on their daughter, Tiffany Trump. Public interactions between the two have generally been cordial in formal settings, though like many high-profile divorces, their relationship has had periods of tension. Tiffany Trump has occasionally appeared at events with both parents, signaling an ongoing commitment to family despite the dissolution of their marriage. Legal agreements around support and custody have largely remained private.

Comparison with Other Relationships in Trump’s History

Trump’s marriage to Marla Maples is best understood in comparison with his other marital relationships, particularly his marriages to Ivana Trump and Melania Trump. Unlike his first marriage, which ended in divorce, his marriage to Melania continues to the present. The table below summarizes key attributes of each marriage for context.

Attribute Comparison Across Marriages

Attribute	Marriage to Ivana Trump	Marriage to Marla Maples	Marriage to Melania Trump
Years Married	1977–1992	1993–1999	2005–present
Children from Marriage	3 (Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric)	1 (Tiffany Trump)	1 (Barron Trump)
Status	Divorced	Divorced	Married
Public Profile of Spouse	Businessperson and model	Actress and TV personality	Model
Notable Context	First high-profile marriage; business and family foundations	Affair during first marriage; highly tabloid-covered wedding	Immigration scrutiny; long-lasting public marriage

Frequently Asked Questions

How long were Donald Trump and Marla Maples married? They were married from December 1993 to 1999, a period of roughly five to six years.
Do Trump and Maples remain in contact? Public statements and appearances suggest a cordial, working co-parenting relationship focused on their daughter Tiffany.
How does Marla Maples compare to Trump’s other wives? Maples is widely recognized as his second wife; her career in entertainment distinguished her from Ivana and Melania, both of whom had less public-facing careers before marriage.

Content Notes and Sourcing

Information in this article is drawn from reputable news reports, biographies, and publicly available legal records related to Trump’s marriages. Dates, childbearing details, and divorce outcomes are presented as consistently reported in multiple sources. Speculative or unverified claims about private conversations or internal motivations are omitted in favor of observable facts and widely accepted timelines.

Conclusion and Legacy

Marla Maples remains a notable figure in Donald Trump’s personal history due to their marriage and shared parenthood. Their relationship exemplifies how high-profile personal lives intersect with public interest, media coverage, and legal processes. For audiences seeking durable context, this explanation prioritizes verified events and established details that remain relevant regardless of changing news cycles.

References

Reputable biographical sources on Donald Trump’s marriages
Major news outlet coverage of Trump–Maples relationship and wedding
Legal filings and reports related to their divorce and custody arrangements