Tiffany Trump's wedding condensed a family divided by the parents' political future

After three days of facing Hurricane Nicole, Tiffany Trump breathed a sigh of relief.

The weather in Palm Beach, Florida, finally eased, and Saturday, her wedding day, was sunny and pleasantly warm. Two people familiar with the bride-to-be's mood told the media that Donald Trump's youngest daughter, the only child of him and his second wife, Mara Maples, was "stressed" by the end-of-season storm. Because she knows what it might mean for her and her boyfriend of four years, Michael Bloss, at Mar-a-Lago Estate.

Still, while Tropical Storm Nicole is moving on, the Trumps may still have some trouble over the weekend. They gathered as their parents prepare for the 2024 presidential race, a prospect that not all family members are excited about. People familiar with the matter told the media that some of them said they did not want to get involved too much.

Three people familiar with the former president's activities said he was not in a very good mental state. Many of the high-profile candidates he backed in the midterm elections failed to win, and now some Republicans are privately talking about his waning influence within the party. One of them said Trump was "hot-tempered."

For now, Trump is more focused on Tuesday's "special statement," when he may or may not — announce plans to run for president a third time, according to people familiar with the situation. His mind is full of the political landscape of 2024 and how he will fit into it.

But first he had to do another job: the bride's father.

Trump usually likes to be the center of attention at his private club, which is also his home, but only when he is congratulated or in the mood for an honor. Preparations for Tiffany's big day didn't go well, and as the weather cleared, her guests flocked to Mar-a-Lago and news broke that the former president was keeping a low profile.

Two people familiar with Trump's mood said he and his wife, Melania, have also been at odds. A post-election news report said Melania became the main target of Trump's anger after Dr. Mehmet Oz's unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate. The New York Times reported that Donald Trump accused Melania Trump of supporting the TV doctor; At a rally this year, he mentioned that his wife was a big fan of Oz.

The extremely low-key Melania Trump did not like to be in the news, and Trump quickly apologized to her on Truth Social for her involvement in what he called "fabricated" stories. However, the two men said the damage had already been done. In addition, when the former president was in a bad mood, everyone avoided him, including his wife.

Still, it's a wedding and the whole family can't completely shy away from each other. People who know Tiffany Trump say she is close to all of her half-siblings. While she was often referred to as Trump's "forgotten daughter" during her years in the White House, when sister Ivanka Trump was center stage, Tiffany, who graduated from Georgetown Law School in 2020, was close to her sister. Last weekend, Ivanka attended a Tiffany's bridal shower at a friend's house in Palm Beach, where her mother, Marla Maples, and stepmother, Melania Trump, attended a Tiffany's blue tiered cake.

Ivanka and Tiffany Trump still have a good relationship, but their family landscape has changed over the past two years. Since the two left the White House, Ivanka's interactions with her father have changed. Ivanka now lives in Miami, and she doesn't crave Washington.

"(Ivanka) will never go back to that life," said a person familiar with her thoughts. "She knew that at this point, it wouldn't be good for her or her family."

Another said Ivanka had been "one-size-fits-all" with Washington "from the day she left Washington" and that that "has never changed." It is also believed that if Ivanka is interested in getting involved in politics again, she will be seen campaigning to support candidates in the midterm elections. However, according to a person familiar with the matter, she did not show up and did not publicly express her support, despite some highly competitive people asking her to run.

All those interviewed said Ivanka Trump's life revolves around her three young children. A person with knowledge of family discussions said that while she may not have spoken directly with Donald Trump about her lack of interest in running for the White House a second time, Trump knew that no campaign would include his daughter's help.

Trump will also lose the presence of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who was Trump's gatekeeper at the White House and one of his administration's most connected and influential voices.

A source familiar with Kushner's plan said: "Jared does not plan to run for office and does not plan to re-involve." The person insisted that Kushner had a good relationship with his father-in-law and that he "tried to be with (Trump)," but said he would do nothing except offer some advice if Trump ran again.

"I'm sure (Jared) will be tested in all sorts of different ways, he's his father-in-law, but that said, it's a far cry from the way he used to help people," the insider said. Kushner, who now runs a private equity firm, has "looked forward" while Trump has not.

Trump presumably knows that his wife, Ivanka and Jared, are not interested in campaigning. During her husband's first campaign for president, Melania barely campaigned for him, holding only three separate campaigns on his behalf before the 2020 election.

There is no sign that Melania Trump will change her habits and actively participate in the upcoming campaign. In an interview in May, when asked if she would ever live in the White House again, she said only "never give up."

Donald Trump Jr. sent a different signal to his friends. "Of course! Asked if Trump's son would represent him if he announced his candidacy next week, a person familiar with Donald Jr.'s thinking replied. For Trump to be re-elected president, Donald Jr. does not have the hesitation of a stepmother, sister and brother-in-law.