Kai Trump, the eldest granddaughter of former President Donald Trump, is poised to begin her collegiate golf career at the University of Miami in the fall of 2026. The 18-year-old, who made her debut in the LPGA at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, in November 2025, has quietly emerged as a recognizable figure within the Trump family, balancing a burgeoning social media presence with her athletic pursuits.
Born on May 12, 2007, in New York City, Kai is the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. And Vanessa Trump. She is the oldest of five siblings: Donald John Trump III, Tristan Milos Trump, Spencer Frederick Trump, and Chloe Sophia Trump. Kai has demonstrated a close relationship with her siblings, frequently featuring them in posts on platforms like TikTok, including a birthday tribute to her sister Chloe in June 2025. She has also taken on a mentoring role, offering golf instruction to her younger brother Tristan and sister Chloe, as documented in a YouTube video shared in July 2026.
Kai’s name carries a personal significance, originating from her maternal great-grandfather. “My grandfather’s name was Kai,” Vanessa Trump explained in a YouTube video posted to Kai’s channel in June 2025. “I always loved the name Kai. I was very close to my grandfather. He was like a father to me.” The name, which means “ocean,” resonated with Vanessa Trump’s affinity for the sea.
Her passion for golf began at the age of two, introduced by her mother. Kai has competed as an amateur, winning the 2022 Women’s Club Championship and the 2024 Ladies Club Championship at Trump International Palm Beach, where she maintains a +0.5 handicap. Despite finishing last at the LPGA event, she expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating to the press, according to Fox News, “I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there.” She added that the experience was “pretty cool” and indicated her game was “in a good spot.”
In 2025, Kai launched a merchandise line, kaitrump.shop, featuring clothing items with her monogram. While the online shop was not listing items for sale as of January 2026, the venture signaled her growing brand recognition.
Kai verbally committed to the University of Miami in August 2024, and subsequently signed a letter of intent to join the Hurricanes’ women’s golf team as a member of the Class of 2030. The University of Miami’s women’s golf team took first place at the White Sands Invitational in October 2025. She will be attending the same school as the children of Tiger Woods, Sam and Charlie.
During a January 2026 interview on the “Impaulsive” podcast, Kai discussed the challenges of navigating a normal social life while under Secret Service protection, describing the situation as “awkward” and “weird.” She also clarified her disinterest in pursuing a political career, stating, “I would never run [for office]… I don’t seek anything to do with politics.”
Kai has publicly expressed her admiration for her grandfather, Donald Trump, acknowledging his influence on her life and golf game. In July 2025, she credited him with instilling a work ethic that has contributed to her success on the course. She also highlighted his support and access to golf courses in a YouTube video shared on her channel in April 2025.
Kai maintains a particularly close relationship with her mother, Vanessa Trump, who she described as her “favorite person” in a December 2025 Instagram post. Vanessa has been a consistent presence at Kai’s golf tournaments and has publicly expressed her pride in her daughter’s accomplishments.
Kai Trump’s YouTube channel, launched in November 2024, has quickly gained a substantial following, exceeding 1.4 million subscribers as of January 2026. She also has a significant presence on Instagram and TikTok, with over 2.6 million and 3.6 million followers respectively. In January 2026, she shared a video on YouTube detailing her decision to foster a dog while recovering from wrist surgery.
