Why doesn’t Donald Trump wear a wedding ring?

Maybe going ring-free is a trend now…

Rex
(Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

Maybe going ring-free is a trend now…

With his controversial policies and meme-inducing aesthetic, people don’t tend to look past Donald Trump’s face. In fact, it was only on the day of his inauguration, when he was sworn in as President, that most of us noticed his hands for the first time. It was then that the world started to question why Donald Trump and Melania don't hold hands, also bringing our attention to the surprising fact that the President doesn't wear a wedding ring.

Donald Trump has been married to Slovenian-born model turned First Lady, Melania Trump, since 2005, and despite her never being seen without her 13-carat emerald-cut diamond, her husband has never worn a wedding ring.

‘I think they’re making a statement by not wearing one,’ New York psychotherapist Jeanne Safer explained to the New York Times, talking about men who forgo the wedding band tradition. ‘It may unconsciously signal availability for adultery, either actually or in fantasy.’

Internet users were quick to point out, however, that Trump has never been a keen wearer of jewellery, opting against wearing a wedding band during his past marriage to first wife, Ivana Zelnickova, and only rarely sporting one while married to his second wife, Marla Maples.

We doubt Melania is concerned - it looks like not wearing a wedding band might be a Trump family custom, with other relatives seeming to forgo wedding band tradition too.

His daughter Ivanka, recently appointed Assistant to the President, has been married to Jared Kushner, now Senior Advisor to the President, since 2009, and while she does wear a wedding band, she chooses to wear it on her right hand rather than on her left, often leaving her 5.22-carat sparkler at home.

While it seems like a strange Trump custom, on closer inspection there are actually a lot of high profile figures who choose to forgo the marital tradition and go ring-less.

Some couples like Beyonce and Jay Z opt for ring finger tattoos over bands, others like Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith don their rings sporadically, and then there are some who have never worn wedding rings or a variation of them, ever.

Despite being married to Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, since 2011, Prince William has never worn a wedding band for the very simple reason that he doesn’t want to.

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‘He is not one for jewellery’, explained a Palace aide. ‘He’s never worn any. He decided he didn’t want to wear one now. It’s all down to personal preference.’

Prince William’s decision, however, is not an uncommon one with both his father Prince Charles, his grandfather Prince Philip, and increasing numbers of men choosing to leave their ring fingers bare.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.