Newly uncovered StB files reveal Czechoslovakia's surveillance of the Trumps

With his inauguration coming up today, a communist-era dossier sheds light on the life of the next US president and his then wife, Ivana.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 20.01.2025 10:46:00 (updated on 21.01.2025) Reading time: 2 minutes

Recently uncovered files from the Czechoslovak State Security Service (StB) reveal that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s ties to Czechoslovakia through his first wife, the late Ivana Trump (née Zelníčková), attracted significant surveillance during the communist era.

The couple married in April 1977 and had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. New archival records show that the StB closely monitored Ivana and her family throughout their relationship.

Shortly after their wedding, the StB launched a surveillance operation, codenamed “Ivana,” to gather intelligence on the Trumps. The agency relied on Ivana’s father, Miloš Zelníček, who became an informant in 1977. Zelníček provided updates on his daughter’s life in the U.S., including Trump’s business dealings and political ambitions.

The records also highlight Ivana’s efforts to maintain her children’s Czech heritage. Donald Jr. often spent summers in Zlín, living simply with his grandparents, far from his privileged life in New York. Records suggest Trump provided Ivana with financial support, reportedly amounting to USD 1 million per child.

"Ivana, despite the environment in which she raises her children, speaks Czech to them. And she also consistently sends them to Czechia; to her grandfather in Zlín.”

StB records

“Donald Jr. enjoyed summers in the Javorníky mountains, embracing a lifestyle very different from his American home," media outlet Seznam Zprávy cites StB records as saying.

The StB also closely followed Ivana’s role in her husband’s business ventures. By 1980, she had transitioned from modeling to interior design, contributing to Trump’s real estate projects. Relaxed travel rules under the Helsinki Accords facilitated her family’s regular visits to Czechoslovakia, allowing the StB to monitor her activities more easily.

The documents further reveal Trump’s early political interests. In 1988, he reportedly donated to both Republican and Democratic campaigns, signaling a potential independent run. This growing attention placed pressure on Ivana, who allegedly complained of excessive media scrutiny.

Despite the dissolution of the Trump marriage, and Ivana’s passing, the family’s ties to the country endure. In 2022, Ivanka Trump accepted a Czech state award honoring her mother’s contributions. Ivana’s mother, now 99, has lived in the U.S. since 2021.

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