Windsor Castle rolled out the red carpet for King Charles, the Princess of Wales, and visiting world leaders during a glittering state banquet, but a noticeable absence quickly fueled speculation. The Trump family was not out in full force. On September 17, Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in the United Kingdom for their second official state visit. Missing from the photo opportunities were Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric.
According to new reports, that was no accident. Sources say it was Melania who decided who would attend. A person close to the First Lady claimed she “runs the show” on high profile trips and this time she did not want a crowd of Trumps overshadowing the presidential couple.
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The result was a carefully staged banquet without some of the family’s most high profile members and a new round of attention on the frosty relationship between Melania and Ivanka. The #ShuterScoop reported that Melania personally blocked Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric from the visit. Insiders say she wanted to avoid what they described as a “family takeover.”
Friends say Melania preferred the trip to look like an official state occasion rather than a Trump reunion. Tiffany Trump, however, did receive approval to join along with her husband Michael Boulos. According to insiders, Tiffany’s reputation for being low key and free of controversy won her a rare pass. As one source explained, “She has always had a softer spot for Tiffany.”
The decision fed into years of rumors about tension between Melania and Ivanka. Sources have long said it is “no secret” the two women do not get along. During Donald Trump’s presidency, Ivanka carved out a role as a senior advisor, while Melania reportedly saw her as competition for influence. Having Ivanka walk into Windsor Castle at her side may have been more than Melania was willing to allow.
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Donald Jr. and Eric appear to have been left out as collateral damage. Sources say they were not the main targets but were excluded to keep the event focused. “They all wanted to be there,” one insider said, “But Melania decides who makes the cut.” The message, according to those close to the family, was that this was not about protocol but control.
The couple’s son Barron Trump was also absent but for a different reason. At 19, Barron reportedly “flat out didn’t want to go.” Unlike his half siblings, he had the choice to opt out, and he skipped the formalities entirely. While his parents attended the banquet, Barron stayed away from the pomp, a reminder that sometimes even teenagers can resist the allure of royal pageantry.
That left Tiffany Trump as the only one of Donald’s older children to appear at the state dinner. Insiders said Tiffany’s low drama personality has always earned her favor with Melania. “She’s low-drama,” one source put it, and in the Trump world that may be the highest compliment.
For Tiffany, the visit to Windsor Castle provided a rare chance to step into the spotlight. In a family where the loudest voices usually dominate headlines, this was her moment to be seen and heard, even if only briefly, on the international stage.
