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How many wives trump has had?
Executive summary
Donald Trump has been married three times: to Ivana Trump (1977–1990), Marla Maples (1993–1999), and Melania Trump (married 2005–present). Multiple profiles and timelines from People, Today, The Knot, Britannica and Wikipedia list these three spouses and their marriage dates [1] [2] [3] [4] [5].
1. Known marriages: a clear tally
Contemporary biographies and news timelines consistently report that Donald Trump’s three wives are Ivana Trump (his first wife), Marla Maples (his second), and Melania Trump (his third and current wife), which means he “has had” three wives in total according to the cited profiles [1] [2] [5].
2. Who they are and when they were married
Sources summarize the sequence and timing: Trump married Ivana in 1977 and that marriage ended in divorce around 1990; he later married Marla Maples in the early 1990s (their relationship and divorce are covered in timelines) and he married Melania Knauss in 2005; Melania is presented as his third wife and is currently first lady again per recent reporting [5] [1] [4].
3. What mainstream outlets say about the marriages
People Magazine’s “What to Know” feature and Today’s timeline present the three wives as the standard, widely accepted account used in mainstream profiles of Trump’s personal life [1] [2]. The Knot and other lifestyle outlets that chronicle celebrity weddings likewise recount the three marriages and provide wedding details and images that align with that record [3].
4. Encyclopedic and biographical confirmation
Encyclopaedia Britannica and family-focused Wikipedia entries list Melania as Trump’s third wife and give a concise family chronology that matches popular news coverage; Britannica also notes Melania’s role reverting to first lady in 2025 in line with election results covered in these sources [4] [5].
5. Public confusion and why the question circulates
Short, viral clips of Donald Trump making offhand jokes about "how many wives" when meeting foreign leaders have resurfaced in social media conversation and press coverage, which can prompt viewers to ask about his own marital history; reporting on such moments (for example, a White House exchange with Syria’s leader) clarifies that the president’s joking line does not change the factual record about his marriages [6] [7] [8].
6. Disputed or missing claims in available sources
If you’ve encountered claims that Trump had more than three wives or that he is currently in a different marital arrangement, these specific assertions are not supported or documented in the provided sources; available sources list only Ivana, Marla and Melania as his spouses [1] [2] [5]. If other claims exist elsewhere, those are not found in the current reporting provided here.
7. Context: why the marriages matter to reporters
Profiles and timelines frequently tie the marriages to public aspects of Trump’s life—family ties, children, business dealings and public image—and outlets use the three marriages as reference points when discussing those topics [1] [2] [5]. Melania’s renewed role as first lady in 2025 is repeatedly noted in encyclopedia and news summaries [4] [9].
8. Takeaway and how to verify further
The consistent answer across People, Today, Britannica, The Knot and family encyclopedias is three marriages: Ivana, Marla and Melania [1] [2] [4] [3] [5]. For additional verification beyond these sources, consult primary public records or direct statements archived by major news organizations; such materials are not included in the current set of sources and therefore are not cited here (not found in current reporting).