Ivana Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump, dead at 73

Ivana Trump, Donald Trump's first wife and the mother of his three oldest children, has died, the former president said Thursday.

"I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City," the former president said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. "She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life. Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them, as we were all so proud of her. Rest In Peace, Ivana!"

Ivana Trump was 73. Her cause of death is unknown.

A former model who was born in Czechoslovakia, the former Ivana Zelnickova married then-businessman Donald Trump in 1977, and held key positions in his businesses, including the Trump Organization, during their 15-year marriage. The couple had three children — Donald Trump Jr., 44, Ivanka Trump, 40, and Eric Trump, 38.

In a statement, the Trump children remembered their mother as "an incredible woman — a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend."

"Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination. She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children and ten grandchildren," they wrote.