Kai Trump, granddaughter of former President Donald Trump, shared an emotional account of her first week as a freshman at the University of Miami. In a YouTube vlog, the 19-year-old documented tearful goodbyes to her family and friends as she left home for college.
"It's just really sad that I have to say goodbye to everyone today," Trump said in the video, visibly upset. "I'm not a very emotional person at all, so this is like really weird for me to cry... I think knowing that I have to say goodbye to everyone tonight really, really sucks."
Her first week at the University of Miami, where she is a member of the women's golf team, was further complicated by illness. Trump revealed that she contracted strep throat, prompting her to return home to Jupiter, Florida, for a few days to recover with her mother's care. "I came all the way back to Jupiter because I was so sick I needed my mom to nurse me back to health," she explained.
During her initial days on campus, Trump also mentioned struggling with basic needs, telling a visiting friend that she "hadn't eaten in three days." Her friend brought her a supply of frozen meals and other groceries, noting that Trump had primarily been consuming diet sodas.
Kai Trump is the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife, Vanessa Trump. Her transition to college comes after a challenging period for her family, as her mother, Vanessa, publicly shared her battle with breast cancer earlier in the year. Vanessa Trump underwent surgery in June and was preparing for the second stage of her treatment.
In a recent interview, Kai described the weeks leading up to her departure for college as emotionally difficult, with both her and her mother crying together during car rides. She expressed gratitude for the increased time spent with her mother over the summer due to her cancer treatments, calling it a "blessing in disguise" that allowed them to connect more deeply before she left for university. Trump also shared that her mother is now feeling "a lot better."