Trump’s Growing Family
Republican figurehead Donald Trump, long known for promoting traditional family values, is father to five children from three marriages: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric with the late Ivana Trump; Tiffany with Marla Maples; and Barron with First Lady Melania Trump.
Those five children have expanded his family tree quickly. Donald Trump Jr. shares five children with ex-wife Vanessa; Ivanka and Jared Kushner have three; Eric and Lara Trump have two; and Tiffany and Michael Boulos recently welcomed one. In total, Trump now has eleven grandchildren.
A Birthday Post That Sparked Backlash
One of those grandchildren just hit a major milestone — and a celebratory Instagram post triggered a wave of criticism.
On October 22, Donald Trump Jr. marked his son Spencer’s 13th birthday with a multi-image post to his 10 million followers. He captioned it:
“Happy birthday to the littlest of my little men. Spencer, I can’t believe you’re 13… I love you so much… I can’t wait to get back into the outdoors with you. You make me very proud.”
Thousands congratulated the teen. However, several photos showed Spencer outdoors with hunting rifles, and that small detail ignited outrage.
Donald Trump Jr. with his son Spencer wearing a matching camouflage outfit, Photo Credit: donaldjtrumpjr/Instagram
Critics Take Aim
Many users zeroed in on Spencer’s use of firearms. One commenter called it “truly sick” to involve someone “not even 13” in hunting. Another accused Trump Jr. of not being “happy unless you’re killing innocent animals.”
The reaction wasn’t surprising, given Trump Jr.’s controversial hunting history.
Past Hunting Controversies
Trump Jr. has faced criticism before. In 2019, a ProPublica report claimed he shot a rare Argali mountain sheep in Mongolia and received his permit only after the hunt. The BBC also reported that U.S. taxpayers covered more than $75,000 in expenses related to the trip.
More recently, Italian activists accused him of shooting a protected Ruddy Shelduck near Venice. Prosecutors reportedly opened a case, though Trump Jr.’s team denied any wrongdoing.
A Deepening Cultural Divide
Despite the recurring criticism — from permit questions to the ethics of trophy hunting — Trump Jr. has remained firm in defending gun rights and outdoor culture. His social media feeds often highlight hunting trips, firearms, and family outings in the wilderness. Supporters argue that lawful hunting and firearm education reflect American tradition.
Yet, the uproar over a teenager posing with a rifle shows one thing clearly: the cultural divide over guns and hunting isn’t fading anytime soon.
