Kai Trump says President Donald Trump is a ‘normal grandpa’ during family dinners but ‘still tries to get into my head’ on the golf course
To most of the world, Donald Trump is the president of the United States. To Kai Trump, he’s still just Grandpa.
The commander-in-chief’s 19-year-old granddaughter opened up about their relationship behind closed doors in a new interview, revealing what family dinners are like — and why things get a little more competitive when the two hit the golf course together, Wonderwall.com can report.
Kai talks about family dinners with grandpa
Speaking on the August 21 episode of NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight, Kai said she and her 80-year-old grandfather spend a fair amount of time together, especially bonding over their shared love of golf.
They also still find time for family dinners. “He’s just like a normal grandpa. That’s what I call him, grandpa. And sitting down at dinner with him, we just talk like normal people,” she said.
Sports, she shared, are a frequent topic of conversation. Kai is on the golf team at the University of Miami, where she just started her freshman year.
“Like if you spoke to your grandpa or a family member, it’s just, it’s very normal,” she said. “And we talk about golf because we have that in common. We talk about a lot of other things. He loves sports. I love sports. And it’s just like having a normal dinner with your family member.”
Kai praises the president’s golf skills
Kai praised her grandfather’s golf skills. “He’s a great golfer,” she said, calling the president “really, really good.”
She also credited him with helping improve her game.
“When we’re playing with each other, even if we’re on the same team, he still tries to get into my head,” Kai said, explaining that the challenge has taught her to stay focused and block out distractions when the pressure is on.
She does “allow” her grandfather one indulgence, she shared. “He drives the golf cart. I let him do that,” she said.
Kai reflects on life being trailed by the Secret Service
While Kai might feel her relationship with her grandfather is “normal,” her life has still been impacted by his presidency.
On a January episode of Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast, she opened up about the unusual experience of having a Secret Service detail around, noting it’s made dating more awkward.
“It’s a little weird,” she said. “I try my best not to let it bother me. Especially the past year, since he’s become president, I’ve had to learn that, yes, they’re following me, but also to focus on pretending that they’re not there.
“Obviously, they are there. But if you can try to not really focus on that and enjoy your time with your friends, your family, or whatever it is, it makes it easier,” she said.
Kai talks about giving back after her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis
Kai sat down with Katie to promote the launch of her latest merchandise drop, which has a charity component. Her mother, Vanessa Trump — who divorced Kai’s father, Donald Trump Jr., in 2018 — was diagnosed with breast cancer in May.
“I wanted to give back to families that also have been going through the same thing with their family members,” Kai said. “So I’m gonna be donating to a lot of breast cancer foundations just to give back to families because I know what it is like to go through it.”
She also shared an update on Vanessa’s health. “She went through treatment, got surgery, but she’s doing better,” Kai said. “It’s been a little bit of a rocky road, but she’s feeling better now, and hopefully she just continues getting better.”