The Trump Family's Biggest Makeup Mistakes

If there's one thing we know about the Trump family, it's that they aren't subtle. This larger-than-life clan is packed with big personalities, from the patriarch himself to his children's spouses. Unfortunately, grabbing attention doesn't always guarantee that the attention is positive, and various members of the Trump family have come under fire — not only for their divisive politics but also for their sometimes questionable styling.

To be fair to the Trumps, they aren't the only public figures to face the occasional beauty stumble. Even icon of poise Kate Middleton has made unforgettable makeup mistakes. But with the Trumps collectively dominating our current news cycle, their familiar faces are everywhere we look right now. In the best-case scenario, that means plenty of chances for these politicos to deliver elegant beauty moments — or, in the worst-case scenario, to serve up more head-scratching makeup looks. We're bracing ourselves by looking back at some of the Trumps' least inspiring makeup moves thus far.

Even before Donald Trump's first bid for the presidency, the businessman drew jeers for his allegedly fake tan — and that judgment hasn't stopped. "This is close to Mrs. Doubtfire's cake face," a Reddit user critiqued one 2023 appearance. Another added, "Typically, clowns are much better at applying their makeup." Yikes. Whatever your opinion on the man (or his tan), Trump's orange skin does prompt questions. As someone accustomed to public appearances, Trump must wear makeup in most photos, but there's seemingly no color correction via cosmetics. A point toward the fake tan argument? Possibly. 

Despite Melania Trump's occasionally inappropriate outfits, the woman is naturally beautiful and doesn't need much makeup to drive the point home. However, the former first lady decidedly prefers a heavy glam look. While that's her prerogative — style yourself however feels good! — we wish she'd ease back on her eye makeup, which can quickly cross the line from dark and sensual to outright raccoon-ish. Especially with their slanted, fox-like shape, it's all too easy for Melania Trump's eyes to vanish beneath heavy cosmetics, resulting in a look that's more squinty than chic.

If anyone came close to pulling off the Trump family's wild makeup style on verve alone, it was Ivana Trump. Donald's first wife (and mother of Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr.) was a character and a half, unapologetically stepping out in hyper-glam ensembles and eye-popping cosmetics. While her look may not have been everyone's cup of tea, we have to tip our hats to the style maven — heedless of criticism, Ivana Trump consistently came to serve with couture gowns, statement jewelry, and, of course, bold makeup.

Donald Trump Jr.'s partner Kimberly Guilfoyle hasn't officially married into the family yet, but she's ahead of the curve regarding their over-the-top makeup habits. Not only does she regularly follow Melania's lead with overly intense smokey eyes, but she's flaunted some less-than-complimentary lipstick choices. One particularly memorable misstep came on a June 2023 episode of her Fox News program, "The Kimberly Guilfoyle Show." Stage makeup may need to be exaggerated, but Guilfoyle paired clunky black eyeshadow with a garish pink lip that would look excessive anywhere, on camera or off.

Lara Trump — current RNC co-chair and wife of Donald Trump's son, Eric — is a regular on the family's campaign trail, talking up her father-in-law and delivering speeches at political rallies. However, the actual messages behind Lara Trump's appearances are frequently overshadowed by her imbalanced makeup look. Thick, unnatural foundation is a recurring problem for the former television producer, as is poor blending. This often leaves Lara Trump with avoidable under-eye creasing, cartoonish color gradation, and even visible makeup lines along her hairline — not what you want during a nationally televised event.