Who is Valentin Rivera? What we know about Vanessa Trump’s relationship with ex-boyfriend

Valentin Rivera, Vanessa Trump’s former partner, seems to have become the talk of the town after speculations of her dating golfer Tiger Woods came to light. According to Daily Mail, Rivera was Vanessa’s first love, who was also a gang member at that time. Although they dated for five years, their relationship started to fade after Rivera completed a 16-month prison sentence.

The two had first met as children while attending the same public school in Manhattan and later rekindled their connection in high school. As per reports, Valentin Rivera served time for negligent homicide after accidentally shooting a friend.

In an exclusive interview with Page Six, reflecting on their first meeting, he said:

“We was in the carnival in the school and I hit her with a water balloon, and she told on me. I went to the principal’s office.”

Valentin Rivera reportedly got into altercations with kids in his neighborhood. He had to serve a sentence at Highland Residential Center. After returning from juvenile detention, he reconnected with Vanessa.

He also served a prison sentence after being arrested for assault charges. He recalled that Vanessa was devastated when he was taken away and visited him twice before her mother forbade her from going.

Valentin Rivera had ties with the “Latin Kings” gang

While in prison, Valentin Rivera gained a reputation that caught the attention of the Latin Kings, a gang that originated in Chicago. He said that after getting into several fights and violent incidents, his name became known as someone not to be messed with.

Vanessa accompanied Rivera to gang meetings at places like El Bohio Community Center. However, she wasn’t allowed to stay since she wasn’t a member and, without Latin heritage, couldn’t join. He said:

"She got into a couple of little catfights. She was pretty jealous as far as other girls and stuff, she let it be known that I was her man."

Rivera recalled she was drawn to the lifestyle, describing it as a fascination during their youth. He believed she enjoyed being around gang members and the excitement that came with it.

Valentin Rivera was often seen waiting for her outside the school at Dwight, adding an air of danger to her image. When asked what attracted her to the gang scene, Rivera suggested it might have been the attention she received from classmates and others.

Vanessa also wrote letters to Rivera when he was in prison. According to Page Six, one of the letters read:

Trending

“I miss you a lot, especially since it’s my birthday coming up. And I wish you were here to celebrate with me. But you’ll be out for my 18th birthday. I can’t wait till that year because a lot’s going to happen. My 18th birthday, you’ll be back in my arms, my prom, and I want to get pregnant and have a baby with you after January.”

Vanessa lived with her mother and stepfather, while Valentin Rivera lived nearby in a building where his father worked as a superintendent. The pair eventually broke up after reports that Vanessa got close to Leonardo DiCaprio.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback