Trump Shares His Four Golden Rules of Parenting
President Donald Trump has offered a rare glimpse into his approach to parenting. During a recent appearance on the Pod Force One podcast, the former president laid out the four golden rules he taught his children while raising them.
Meet the Trump Children
Trump is a father of five. His first child was born 47 years ago, and his parenting philosophy hasn’t changed since.
Here’s a quick rundown of his kids:
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Donald Jr., his eldest
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Ivanka, 43
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Eric, 41
(All three are children of Trump’s late first wife, Ivana.)
Then comes Tiffany, 31, daughter of his second wife, Marla Maples. Tiffany recently gave birth to Trump’s 11th grandchild.
Finally, there’s Barron, 19, his youngest and tallest son, whom he shares with First Lady Melania Trump.
A Parenting Philosophy Rooted in Family Tragedy
Trump shared his parenting advice while speaking with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. When asked for his formula, he listed four core rules:
“No dru.gs, no alcohol, no cigarettes. And I’d say try to avoid tattoos.”
He admitted the tattoo rule was more of a suggestion, given its popularity. However, he remained firm on the first three:
“I said it all the time. I still say it.”
Why He Says “No” So Often
Trump’s strict stance on substance use stems from personal loss. His older brother, Fred Trump Jr., struggled with alcoholism and died at 42 from a heart attack.
Trump recalls Fred’s advice clearly:
“He’d always say, ‘Don’t drink, don’t smoke.’”
Although drugs weren’t a major concern back then, Trump believes Fred would have added that to the list today.
Do His Kids Follow the Rules?
Trump’s own lifestyle reflects his beliefs—he lives a sober, T-total life. But his children? That’s more complicated.
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Donald Jr. has said he gave up alcohol several years ago.
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Eric admits he’s not a big drinker.
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Tiffany has likely left her party days behind since becoming a mom.
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Barron, still underage, reportedly doesn’t drink.
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Ivanka’s drinking habits remain unclear, but none of them are known to be heavy drinkers.
Final Thoughts
Whether his children fully follow his golden rules or not, Trump continues to share his parenting mantra. His message is simple but firm: Avoid the things that once hurt his own family.
