Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s family is as well-known for its size as for its controversies.
The 79-year-old Republican, a staunch supporter of traditional family values, has five children from three marriages: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric with his first wife Ivana Trump; Tiffany with his second wife Marla Maples; and his youngest, Barron, with his current wife, Melania Trump.
Together, Trump’s children have given him eleven grandchildren — five from Don Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa, three from Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, two from Eric and Lara Trump, and one from Tiffany and her husband Michael Boulos.
Recently, one of those grandchildren, Spencer Trump, celebrated his 13th birthday — but a photo shared by his father quickly stirred controversy online.
 |
| Flickr |
On October 22, Donald Trump Jr. posted a 12-photo collection on Instagram to mark his son’s milestone birthday, writing to his 10.1 million followers:
“Happy birthday to the littlest of my little men. Spencer, I can’t believe you’re 13 and I hope you have an awesome day, buddy. I love you so much. I can’t wait to get back into the outdoors with you. You make me very proud.”
However, among the birthday tributes and smiling family photos, several images showed the young teen posing with firearms — a detail that shocked and angered some viewers.
In three of the twelve photos, Spencer was seen hunting or holding guns. Critics were quick to voice concern, questioning why a child was participating in hunting activities at such a young age.
One user commented, “Not even 13 and you threw a gun in his arms. Truly sick. There is no reason a young man today needs to kill an animal for food.”
Another added, “You’re a sorry excuse for a human – not happy unless you’re killing innocent animals.”
This isn’t the first time Don Jr. has faced backlash over his love of hunting.
In 2019, the BBC reported that a trip he took to Mongolia cost U.S. taxpayers more than $75,000 after he hunted a rare Argali mountain sheep — a species protected under Mongolian law. According to a ProPublica investigation, Don Jr. only received his hunting permit retroactively.
Earlier this year, Italian authorities launched an investigation after he was filmed allegedly shooting a protected Ruddy Shelduck near Venice. His team denied any wrongdoing.
Over the years, Trump Jr. has become a polarizing figure for his outspoken defense of gun rights and his frequent sharing of “trophy” hunting photos from around the world. Critics have raised ethical and legal questions about his hunting practices, especially when endangered species are involved.
Whether seen as a devoted outdoorsman or a symbol of excess, Don Jr. continues to spark fierce debate online — and this latest birthday post for his son is no exception.
Please SHARE this story with family and friends and let us know your thoughts!
Post a Comment