Images from 2023 showed that the site appeared overgrown and neglected, prompting questions about Trump’s intentions. Ivana was buried in a lavish gold casket, and the funeral was held at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan, with Melania Trump in attendance. Yet, the stark contrast between the ornate ceremony and the modest grave site at the golf club fueled speculation about ulterior motives.
Trump reportedly sought to convert the golf course into a cemetery in 2014, initially proposing a large-scale project. While that plan was denied, a smaller site allowing up to ten burials was approved. Ivana is the first known person to be buried there, raising suspicions that the site could serve future purposes beyond family burial.
Brooke Harrington, a Dartmouth sociology professor, examined New Jersey’s tax code and found potential tax benefits from classifying the land as a cemetery. She argued that it could reduce Trump’s property, income, and sales taxes significantly. Harrington also criticized the grave’s appearance, calling it “little more than a pauper’s grave.”
Despite these possibilities, Newsweek suggested the tax benefits may be minimal and complicated to implement. While Ivana’s burial may offer Trump some financial relief, it’s unclear whether the effort is truly worthwhile. The mystery continues to stir debate, blending legal strategy with personal legacy in an unusual and controversial way.
