Donald Trump Jr. stirred up some outrage over the weekend after sharing a series of photos featuring two of his children.
The eldest son of the president-elect posted the pictures on Instagram, where he boasts over 7.9 million followers.
“Game night and indoor s’mores!” the 47-year-old executive vice president of the Trump Organization captioned the set, just days after introducing his new girlfriend, Bettina Anderson, at Mar-a-Lago for a New Year’s Eve celebration.
The 38-year-old was not present in the photos shared on Saturday, which instead showed Trump Jr. with his two youngest children, Spencer, 12, and Chloe, 10.
Also absent was Trump Jr.’s 55-year-old former fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, whom he began dating in 2018 and got engaged to in 2020.
Despite the seemingly innocent nature of the posts, they quickly drew criticism from onlookers, who were not bothered by the junk food but by a single canister of Zyn.
Zyn is a brand of nicotine pouch that is placed between the gums and lip, gaining popularity among conservatives. The container was visible on the table where the family was snacking and playing board games.
The kids—who are from Trump Jr.’s marriage to his ex-wife Vanessa Trump—did not appear to partake in the tobacco product. They were seen enjoying s’mores and throwing axes with their dad, while observers took issue with the presence of the nicotine item.
Donald Trump Jr. spawned some outrage over the weekend after posting a series of photos with two of his kids, Spencer, 12, and 10-year-old Chloe
Observers raised concerns about a single canister of Zyn on the table near Donald Trump Jr.’s youngest child, just days after he introduced his new girlfriend at his father’s New Year’s celebration in Mar-a-Lago.
“Not the [Z]yn next to the child!” commented one prominent user, while Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host, prepares for her new role as ambassador to Greece.
“You probably shouldn’t let your daughter [Z]yn at that age,” quipped another, seemingly in jest.
“It’s the [Z]yn for me,” added another commenter, finishing with a laughing emoji.
“S’mores and [Z]yn,” declared yet another, using emojis to express their amusement at the situation.
While some pointed out the product’s closeness to the children, they did not seem overly concerned, noting that the canister was closed and the kids appeared unaware of its presence.
“The joy and happiness in [this] family,” wrote one observer, as others urged Trump Jr. to reconcile with Guilfoyle.
“And I see the Zyn. Spittin while huntin,” joked another commenter.
This post and the ensuing reactions come after Zyn has emerged as an unexpected symbol of conservative masculinity over the past year, partly due to endorsements from figures like Tucker Carlson and the founders of the Full Send podcast.
Some of the criticisms were made in jest, while others were more serious – as the tobacco product is not intended for minors
The trio also appeared to engage in some ax-throwing, though it was the Zyn that set onlookers off
The product made headlines in November when Fox News’ Tucker Carlson ditched it to launch his on competitor, after finding issue with Democratic donations made by employees at Philip Morris
The Fox News host is seen with a pack of the pouches during preparations for the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee
Tucker Carlson creates his own nicotine patch called ‘Alp’
The product gained attention in November when Tucker Carlson chose to abandon it to launch a competitor called ALP, citing dissatisfaction with alleged political donations made by employees of the prominent tobacco company Philip Morris.
This news follows reports that Donald Trump Jr. and his then-fiancée had been publicly arguing at various events after purchasing a $9.7 million home in Admirals Cove, located 20 miles north of Mar-a-Lago, over the summer.
The couple’s relationship has since deteriorated, with insiders telling the Daily News last month that Trump Jr. has been involved with Anderson, a model from an affluent Palm Beach family, for at least six months.
As these reports surfaced, Trump Jr. issued a statement addressing the split, assuring that they are managing it amicably.
“Kimberly and I will never stop caring for each other and will always maintain a special bond,” the then 46-year-old stated, before celebrating his birthday with Anderson last week while welcoming the New Year. Trump Jr.’s birthday falls on December 31.
He expressed to Page Six, “I could not be more proud of her and the important role she’ll continue to play [as U.S. ambassador to Greece],” after his father recently endorsed her for the position.
Trump Jr. praised the former California attorney, saying, “She’s been an undefeated prosecutor, a national TV news star, a leader of the MAGA movement, and a close advisor to the president.”
It also comes weeks after reports suggested Trump Jr and his then-fiancée had been arguing publicly at various events, all after buying a $9.7million home 20 miles north of Mar-a-Lago over the summer
Take a look back at the relationship of Don Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle
On New Year’s Eve, Trump’s debuted his new girlfriend, Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson
Anderson, 38, turned heads in a striking red dress at the Trump family’s Christmas celebration at Mar-a-Lago. However, she was notably absent from her boyfriend’s photos shared on Saturday.
“The people of Greece are getting an absolute star, and now the whole world will see it more than ever,” Trump Jr. concluded.
Guilfoyle, who also spearheaded fundraising efforts for Trump’s 2020 campaign, was previously married to Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California. The couple was together for five years, from 2001 to 2006, before parting ways. Guilfoyle then married businessman Eric Villency, but they divorced in 2009.
Trump Jr., on the other hand, was married to his ex-wife from 2005 to 2018 and has five children: Kai, 17, Donald, 15, Tristan, 13, and Spencer and Chloe.
Regarding his new relationship with Anderson, it was solidified last week at Mar-a-Lago, just three months after DailyMail.com reported that the couple was spotted affectionately kissing at another Palm Beach restaurant, much to the surprise of onlookers.
