Cherise Trump has been gaining attention for her advocacy in defending free speech, particularly on college campuses, as the Executive Director of Speech First, an organization focused on protecting First Amendment rights. She also hosts the Well Said podcast, where she discusses topics related to free speech, higher education, and American culture. Prior to her current work, she held positions with The Heritage Foundation and The Alexander Hamilton Society, specializing in defense, foreign policy, and immigration reform.
However, Cherise often finds herself fielding questions about whether she’s related to Donald Trump, given the shared last name. Despite the coincidental similarity, Cherise is not related to the former president. She only adopted the Trump surname after marrying her husband in 2017. While some might initially wonder about a family connection, Cherise quickly clarifies that there is no link between her and Donald Trump.
One notable incident occurred when she was invited to speak at Trinity University, where her last name caused confusion. The university’s risk management team flagged the event as an “elevated risk,” fearing protests due to the assumption that Cherise was related to the former president. This led the university to require her to purchase liability insurance for the event, which she found excessive and unnecessary. Cherise argued that universities should encourage open dialogue rather than fear potential protests.
In spite of these challenges, Cherise Trump remains focused on her mission of defending free speech and engaging in meaningful discussions on important societal issues.