Vanessa Trump joined her daughter Kai for a marathon back-to-school shopping trip to outfit the teen’s new college apartment.
The 48-year-old mother of five appeared in Kai’s Instagram video shared Sunday from a Target store in Miami, where the 19-year-old University of Miami freshman had accidentally botched her furniture delivery. “I am totally exhausted from going to her apartment and coming back and forth and moving everything,” Vanessa said in the clip.
Kai explained that her mom “drove to Miami for no reason yesterday” because she “messed up the furniture delivery.”
“It’s OK. It was during rush hour too, so it was fun times,” Vanessa fired back sarcastically. “What we do for our children, right?”
The mother-daughter errand came as Vanessa continues treatment for breast cancer, which she publicly disclosed in May via a lengthy Instagram post. “While this isn’t the news anyone expects, I’m working closely with my medical team on a treatment plan,” she wrote at the time. “I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me.”
A month after revealing her diagnosis, Vanessa shared that she was recovering from surgery and “healing and moving forward.” She noted that she would “soon” begin “the second stage” of her treatment.
By July, Kai offered an update on her mother’s condition while walking the red carpet at the 2026 ESPY Awards. “She’s doing good,” the teen told reporters at the Los Angeles ceremony.
Kai committed to play golf for the University of Miami in August 2024, announcing the decision on Instagram. “I am super excited to be a Cane and represent the University of Miami,” she wrote. “Gooo Canes!”
During their Target run, Vanessa ran through the lengthy list of supplies Kai needed, including cleaning products, since the freshman would “be cleaning her own apartment.” Kai pushed back playfully: “No, I’m calling her down. ‘Hey mom, my bathroom is dirty.'” Vanessa held firm in response: “She is going to learn how to do that, or else it’ll just stay a mess.”
Kai captioned the Sunday video with gratitude for her mother’s presence during the major life transition. “Back-to-school shopping with Mom! We spent HOURS shopping for everything I could possibly need for my apartment and getting ready for this new chapter of college life!” she wrote. “So thankful my mom was there to do it all with me. She truly is the BEST mom, and I’m so grateful for her.”
The shopping excursion marked a bright moment for the family amid Vanessa’s health battle. Tiger Woods, whom Vanessa began dating in early 2025, has reportedly been a steady source of support. An insider told reporters in May that the golfer was “staying focused” on being her rock following his own rehab stint. “He’s proud of how positive she’s stayed and how she’s handling everything so far,” the source shared. “She’s been so strong and he truly believes she’s going to be OK. He’s just trying to support her however he can right now.”
Kai is the eldest of Vanessa and ex-husband Donald Trump Jr.’s five children. The former couple, who finalized their divorce in 2018, also share Donald III, 17, Tristan, 14, Spencer, 13, and Chloe, 12.
