{"id":1676,"date":"2026-06-09T20:08:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T20:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=1676"},"modified":"2026-06-09T20:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T20:08:15","slug":"trumps-granddaughter-his-new-ivanka-dismisses-boos-at-nba-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=1676","title":{"rendered":"Trump’s granddaughter — his ‘new Ivanka’ — dismisses boos at NBA Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Donald Trump\u2019s adored, 19-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump was front and center with him as he faced loud, \u201cthunderous\u201d boos from the thousands in the crowd at Madison Square Garden, as she, the president and their entourage attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals Monday night.<\/p>\n

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People on social media wondered if Kai Trump was taken aback by the boos but tried to put on a brave face, smile and even laugh them off. But the usually Trump-friendly Daily Mail was very pointed about Kai\u2019s demeanor, asserting that the college-bound influencer and aspiring pro golfer appeared to \u201csmirk\u201d in response to her grandfather\u2019s \u201chaters.\u201d The \u201cbrutal\u201d chorus of boos erupted when the president was shown on the jumbotron during the presentation of the national anthem before the game, in which the San Antonio Spurs defeated the hometown New York Knicks.<\/p>\n

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Donald Trump and his granddaughter Kai smirked through a chorus of brutal boos from the New York Knicks crowd at Madison Square Garden on Monday night https:\/\/t.co\/9qiYOVDI9j \ud83d\udd17 pic.twitter.com\/FJR2OqidJ9<\/p>\n

\u2014 Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) June 9, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Later, a \u201cdesperate\u201d Trump insisted to reporters that he received a warm reception at Madison Square Garden, the Daily Beast reported. Meanwhile, his loyal granddaughter went along with his version of events, posting on Instagram Stories overnight: \u201cThe atmosphere was amazing. Let\u2019s get that win. Go Knicks.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of Kai\u2019s Madison Square Garden appearance, the Daily Mail also highlighted her \u201cMAGA makeover\u201d \u2014 the new, long blonde tresses that the natural brunette has been sporting since she posted a YouTube video in May about going to the salon to get \u201ca hair transition\u201d ahead of her high school graduation. The Daily Mail said: \u201cHer new layered \u2018Palm Beach blonde\u2019 hair is synonymous with (the MAGA elite).\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, Kai\u2019s \u201chair transition\u201d bolsters the view of those online who have dubbed her the \u201cnew Ivanka\u201d \u2014 a lookalike of her famously blonde aunt Ivanka Trump. According to this view, Kai, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr., has become the favorite new female star of the Trump family, the one who will sometimes appear by Trump\u2019s side, especially if he wants to emphasize that he\u2019s a family man and a loving patriarch.<\/p>\n

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So this granddaughter is his new Ivanka?!? Notice it\u2019s never any of the male grand children?!? https:\/\/t.co\/fRiIhu99D2<\/p>\n

\u2014 Susie S. (@MissSusie66) June 9, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

During Trump\u2019s first administration and during his first and second runs for president in 2016 and 2020, Ivanka Trump played that role and even became his White House senior adviser. Critics of Ivanka Trump, his rumored favorite child, often said that the Ivy League-educated mother of three let herself be used as her volatile father\u2019s \u201ccalm, reasonable surrogate,\u201d to soften his public image and to fend off accusations of misogyny by showing that he cares about the hopes and dreams of women.<\/p>\n

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Kai Trump appeared to serve a similar function at the Republican National Convention in 2024 when the then-17-year-old delivered a speech that focused on her personal relationship with the former reality TV star and characterized him as a sweet and supportive grandparent.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, he\u2019s just a normal grandpa,\u201d Kai said. \u201cHe gives us candy and soda when our parents are not looking. He always wants to know how we\u2019re doing in school.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Since then, the teen has become known for going on social media to occasionally tout her relationship with her grandfather \u2014 including when she can use the White House for photo shoots to promote her line of golf sweatshirts or her Secret Service entourage for YouTube content.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But even when Kai Trump was in the salon chair, getting her \u201cMAGA makeover,\u201d she shared a video, showing how her phone started ringing as she revealed to the camera that \u201cGrandpa\u201d was calling, the Mirror.US reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After speaking to the president, Kai turned to her stylist and said, \u201cIsn\u2019t it so cute that he just calls me whenever? He\u2019s literally just, like, a grandpa, I swear. He literally is on the way back from China and he\u2019s calling me. I know, very very cute.\u201d<\/p>\n