Most people expect basic respect and loyalty from their spouse, but what happens when those fundamental marriage principles get thrown out the window? Donald Trump’s three marriages have been filled with public scandals, affairs, and behavior that would make most people file for divorce immediately. From cheating on pregnant wives to making inappropriate comments about other women while married, Trump’s track record as a husband reads like a cautionary tale about what not to do in a relationship.
Cheating on his pregnant third wife with adult film stars
While Melania Trump was pregnant with their son Barron in 2006, Donald Trump allegedly had an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The encounter reportedly took place at a celebrity golf tournament, just months after Melania gave birth. Trump later paid Daniels $130,000 in hush money to keep quiet about the affair during the 2016 presidential campaign. This payment became part of the criminal charges that led to Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts.
The timing makes this betrayal particularly cruel. Most husbands are focused on supporting their wives during pregnancy and early motherhood. Instead, Trump was allegedly pursuing other women while his wife dealt with the challenges of new motherhood. The fact that he then tried to cover it up with illegal payments shows he knew his actions were wrong, yet he did it anyway.
Making inappropriate comments about his own daughter
Trump has repeatedly made disturbing comments about his daughter Ivanka that would make any wife uncomfortable. He once said that if Ivanka weren’t his daughter, he would probably be dating her. On another occasion, he commented on her figure and attractiveness in ways that crossed obvious boundaries. These statements were made publicly while he was married to Melania, showing a complete lack of respect for both his wife and daughter.
Most spouses would be mortified if their partner made such inappropriate comments about anyone, let alone their own child. The fact that Trump saw nothing wrong with these statements and continued making them throughout his marriage demonstrates a troubling pattern of behavior. It also puts his wife in the impossible position of having to defend or ignore deeply uncomfortable public statements.
Publicly feuding with his first wife during their divorce
During his divorce from Ivana Trump in the early 1990s, Trump turned what should have been a private family matter into a public spectacle. He had been having an affair with Marla Maples, who later became his second wife. Instead of handling the situation with discretion for the sake of their three young children, Trump allowed intimate details of his marriage and affair to splash across tabloid newspapers for months.
The media circus included embarrassing details about his relationship with both women, creating a humiliating situation for Ivana. Trump seemed to revel in the attention rather than trying to protect his family’s privacy. This behavior showed a complete disregard for his wife’s dignity and his children’s wellbeing. Most people going through divorce try to shield their kids from conflict, but Trump appeared to enjoy the drama.
Refusing to hold his wife’s hand in public
Multiple viral videos show Trump pulling his hand away when Melania tries to hold it during public appearances. These moments of rejection happened repeatedly during official events, including international trips where the whole world was watching. Body language experts have noted the obvious tension and discomfort in many of their public interactions, suggesting deeper problems in their relationship.
Hand-holding might seem like a small thing, but it represents basic affection and connection between spouses. When someone consistently rejects these simple gestures of intimacy in public, it sends a clear message about their feelings. The fact that these rejections happened during important presidential events made them even more hurtful and embarrassing for Melania, who had to maintain her composure while being publicly snubbed by her own husband.
Bragging about assaulting women while married
The infamous Access Hollywood tape from 2005 captured Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women, using crude language to describe grabbing women without their consent. He was married to Melania at the time these comments were made. The tape surfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign, forcing his wife to deal with the public humiliation of her husband’s disgusting statements about other women.
Most wives would be devastated to learn their husband talks about women this way, especially in such a degrading and violent manner. The fact that Trump felt comfortable making these comments while married shows his complete lack of respect for his wife and all women. Melania had to face reporters and the public knowing that millions of people had heard her husband describe sexual assault as something he enjoys doing.
Leaving his second wife for his current wife
Trump began his relationship with Melania while still married to Marla Maples, his second wife and mother of his daughter Tiffany. He met Melania at a party in 1998 and started pursuing her while still legally married to Marla. This pattern of overlapping relationships shows a consistent inability to end one marriage before starting the next relationship, leaving his wives to deal with the humiliation of being replaced.
The transition from Marla to Melania was handled with the same lack of discretion that marked his first divorce. Trump seemed to enjoy having multiple women in his life simultaneously rather than properly ending his marriage before moving on. This behavior pattern suggests he views wives as replaceable rather than as partners deserving of loyalty and respect.
Making his wives sign non-disclosure agreements
Reports suggest that Trump required his wives to sign non-disclosure agreements preventing them from talking about their marriages or his behavior. These legal documents essentially gag his spouses from sharing their experiences, even after divorce. Most healthy marriages are built on trust and open communication, not legal threats designed to keep secrets.
The need for such agreements suggests Trump knew his behavior was problematic and wanted to prevent his wives from speaking publicly about what really happened in their marriages. This creates an atmosphere of fear and control rather than love and partnership. It also shows he was more concerned about protecting his public image than creating genuine intimacy with his spouse.
Commenting on other women’s attractiveness while married
Throughout his marriages, Trump has publicly commented on other women’s physical appearance, often in inappropriate ways. He’s made statements about actresses, politicians, and even random women he encounters, rating their attractiveness or making sexual comments. These public statements happened while he was married, creating embarrassing situations for his wives who had to watch their husband openly ogle other women.
Most married people understand that making sexual comments about others is disrespectful to their spouse. Trump’s inability to control these impulses in public suggests even worse behavior in private. His wives have had to endure countless instances of their husband publicly expressing interest in other women, which would be humiliating for anyone in a committed relationship.
Using his foundation funds for personal expenses during marriage
Trump was forced to dissolve his charitable foundation after investigations revealed he had been using the money for personal and business expenses. This misuse of charitable funds occurred during his marriage to Melania, putting her in the position of being associated with fraudulent activity. The New York Attorney General’s lawsuit revealed a pattern of illegal behavior that his wife had to defend publicly.
Using charity money for personal gain while married shows a complete lack of integrity that extends beyond just romantic relationships. It demonstrates that Trump’s dishonest behavior affects every aspect of his life, including his role as a husband. Melania had to deal with the public embarrassment of being married to someone who would steal from charitable organizations meant to help others.
Trump’s history as a husband reveals a pattern of behavior that would challenge any marriage. From cheating and lying to public humiliation and legal troubles, his wives have endured situations that most people would never accept. His consistent failure to show basic respect, loyalty, and discretion demonstrates why many historians and relationship experts consider his personal conduct as troubling as his public failures.
