Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump's Women

Subtitled ‘The Secret History of Trump's Women' this book invited anger from the right who fixated on such important issues as whether or not Melania actually finished her architectural degree. I think that was besides the point as what Burleigh manages to do here is portray women who have often lived difficult lives in the spotlight married or related to one of the biggest characters of the modern age, with dignity and humanity.


Starting with the formidable Elizabeth, Donald's grandmother who may have been the actual founder of the Trump organisation, Burleigh shows how the Trump family have often revised history to portray themselves in a different light; decreasing the contribution of Elizabeth and claiming to be Swedish rather than German. For someone so fixated on immigrants, Trump ignores that his grandparents were immigrants, his mother emigrated from Scotland (to work in Andrew Carnegie's house no less) and he has married women who have immigrated.


I was particularly taken with Ivana's story, she seems to have had one of the most difficult lives losing men who meant a great deal to her and suffering from alleged domestic violence from Donald yet still proving to be a great business woman and an icon of the eighties. Trump obviously has problems with staying faithful and has a phobia of menstruation and of pregnancy. He expects women to stay young and beautiful and to provide his dynasty yet never appear in the pregnant state. Women who call him out on sexual harassment are ‘liars' and he has enjoyed sleeping with multiple women As an independent business woman, Burleigh certainly implies that he felt threatened by her acumen.


The tales of Ivana and of his other wives are of women who have been silenced by Trump's lawyers who have threatened them if they talk. The beginning passage of Burleigh meeting at a restaurant with an informant who seems terrified of getting caught was particularly vivid. Burleigh also explores the fears that people have that Melania is unhappy in her marriage, it sounds as if she is particularly unsuited to being married to a public figure and does not always know how to behave. There are also the stories of his sisters and of his daughter Tiffany


Although these women have mostly been silenced, Ivanka is a woman who can't be silenced. She often lives on her own terms and seems to be able to stand up to her father at times, and has recovered from setbacks when they have arisen.


I found this audiobook absolutely fascinating and very well narrated. Burleigh has obviously put a lot of research into it.