Major Controversies Surrounding Fred Trump: A Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Fred Trump.

Frederick Christ Trump Sr. (1905-1999) was an American real estate developer and businessman known for building and managing affordable housing in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn and Queens. He faced controversy over discriminatory rental practices. He is most notably the father of Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. president. Trump's business acumen and real estate empire significantly influenced his son's career and approach to business. He was a major figure in shaping New York City's housing landscape after World War II.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

May 1927: Trump arrested at KKK rally

In May 1927, Fred Trump was arrested at a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) rally in Queens for "refusing to disperse from a parade when ordered to do so". The charge was later dismissed.

1927: Arrest at Ku Klux Klan Demonstration

In 1927, Fred Trump was arrested at a Ku Klux Klan demonstration. However, there is no conclusive evidence that he supported the organization.

1927: Incorporation of Company and Arrest at KKK Rally

In 1927, Fred Trump's company was incorporated, and he was arrested at a Ku Klux Klan demonstration.

1954: Senate Investigation for Windfall Gains

In 1954, Fred Trump was included in a list of city builders accused of profiteering from government contracts and investigated by a U.S. Senate banking committee for windfall gains.

1954: Senate Committee Investigation for Profiteering

In 1954, Fred Trump was investigated by a U.S. Senate committee for allegedly profiteering from government contracts.

January 27, 1966: Testimony Regarding Profiteering Allegations

On January 27, 1966, Fred Trump testified regarding allegations of windfall profiteering, stating that he had personally done nothing wrong.

March 31, 1966: FBI Correspondence Regarding Trump

Prior to Fred Trump's deposition on March 31, 1966, a deputy attorney general corresponded with the FBI about reports it had on him.

September 1966: Demolition of Steeplechase Park's Pavilion of Fun

In September 1966, Fred Trump demolished the Pavilion of Fun at Steeplechase Park in a highly publicized ceremony.

1966: New York State Investigation for Profiteering

In 1966, Fred Trump faced another investigation, this time by New York State, concerning profiteering.

1968: Fair Housing Act of 1968

In 1968, the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was infringed.

July 1972: Test applicants sent to Trump-owned complexes

In July 1972, after complaints of discrimination, the New York City Commission on Human Rights and the Urban League sent test applicants to Trump-owned complexes, finding that white people were offered apartments while black people were generally turned away.

October 1973: Justice Department files civil rights lawsuit

In October 1973, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Trump Organization (Fred Trump, chair, and Donald Trump, president) for infringing the Fair Housing Act of 1968. In response, Trump attorney Roy Cohn countersued for $100 million in damages, accusing the DoJ of false accusations.

June 10, 1975: Consent decree signed between DoJ and Trump Organization

On June 10, 1975, a consent decree between the DoJ and the Trump Organization was signed, with both sides claiming victory. The decree prohibited the Trumps from "discriminating against any person in the ... sale or rental of a dwelling" and required them to advertise vacancies in minority papers, promote minorities to professional jobs, and list vacancies on a preferential basis. It also ordered the Trumps to become thoroughly acquainted with the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

1975: Tenants hold rent strike

In 1975, tenants of two of Trump's Norfolk tower complexes held a monthlong rent strike due to rodent and insect infestations, as well as problems with water heating, air conditioning, and elevator service.

September 1976: Trump arrested for code violations

In September 1976, after being ordered to correct code violations in a Seat Pleasant, Maryland property, Trump was invited to the property to meet with county officials and was arrested on site, then released on $1,000 bail.

1985: Biography repeats fabrication

In 1985, Jerome Tuccille's biography of Donald Trump repeated Fred Trump's fabrication that he was born in New Jersey and erroneously stated that his middle name was Charles.

1987: The Art of the Deal Allegations

In 1987, Donald Trump's 'The Art of the Deal' alleged that Fred Trump was born in New Jersey and was the son of an immigrant from Sweden, further perpetuating false claims about his origins.

Trump: The Art of the Deal

Check it on Amazon

1989: Advice to Donald Regarding Marital Affairs

In 1989, while Donald was married to Ivana, Fred Trump reputedly lectured Donald that he could "have a thousand mistresses" but should avoid getting caught in a single extramarital affair.

December 1990: Donald seeks to amend Fred's will

In December 1990, Donald Trump sought to amend his father's will, which, according to Fred's daughter Maryanne Trump Barry, would have given the entire estate to Donald. Fred rejected the proposal.

1990: Fred provides funds for Trump's Castle bond payment

In late 1990, when an $18.4 million bond payment for Atlantic City's Trump's Castle was due, Fred sent a bookkeeper to buy $3.5 million in casino chips, which were not used, to facilitate the payment. The state's Casino Control Commission later found the transaction to constitute an illegal loan and fined the casino $65,000.

1991: Fred sells shares to Donald for $10,000

In 1991, Fred sold his shares in Trump Palace Condominiums to his son for $10,000, thus appearing to evade millions of dollars in gift taxes and benefiting from a legally questionable write-off.

1991: FBI memo implying ties to organized crime

In 1991, the FBI released a small file it had on Fred Trump, which includes a heavily redacted memo implying the bureau received intel regarding ties to organized crime.

1992: Subsidiary Setup to Funnel Finances

In 1992, Fred and Donald Trump established a subsidiary to channel Fred's finances to his children.

1992: Fred and Donald set up a subsidiary company

In 1992, Fred and Donald set up a subsidiary company in which each of Fred's living children owned a 20% stake.

1993: Biography asserts Fred was a philanderer

In 1993, Harry Hurt III's biography of Donald Trump asserted that Fred Trump was a philanderer, leading to him being known as the "King of Miami Beach".

2004: Collective assets sold for 16 times their value

In 2004, the collective assets, valued at $41.4 million in 1997, were sold for over 16 times this value, avoiding hundreds of millions of dollars in gift taxes.

2005: Leak of Donald Trump's tax information

The 2016 leak of Donald Trump's tax information from 2005, which showed an income of $153 million, prompted The New York Times to investigate, leading to the 2018 exposé.

May 2016: Reported use of pseudonym "Mr. Green"

In May 2016, Fortune reported that Fred Trump had used the false name "Mr. Green" to anonymously inquire about property values.

October 2016: FBI released small file on Fred Trump

In October 2016, the FBI released a small file it had on Fred Trump in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. The file included a news article from 1986 concerning political donations by Trump Management, and a memo from 1991 implying ties to organized crime.

2016: Leak of Donald Trump's tax information

The 2016 leak of Donald Trump's tax information from 2005, which showed an income of $153 million, prompted The New York Times to investigate, leading to the 2018 exposé.

February 2017: Israeli newspaper asserts racism inheritance

In February 2017, a liberal Israeli newspaper asserted that both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu had inherited racism from their fathers.

October 2018: Reported lack of significant financial contributions to charities

In October 2018, The New York Times reported in an exposé on Fred Trump's financial records that they had found no evidence that he had made any significant financial contributions to charities.

October 2018: New York Times exposé on Fred and Donald Trump's finances

In October 2018, a New York Times exposé on Fred and Donald Trump's finances revealed that Fred created 295 income streams for Donald and concludes that the latter "was a millionaire by age 8", receiving $413 million from Fred's business empire over his lifetime, including over $60.7 million in loans, which were largely unreimbursed.

2018: New York Times details tax fraud

As detailed in 2018 by The New York Times, the business entity had no apparent legitimate purpose and was evidently used to conduct tax fraud by funneling millions of dollars of Fred's wealth to his progeny without paying gift taxes.

2018: Opined criminal contributions

In 2018, Jonathan Chait, writing for New York magazine, opined that many of Fred Trump's contributions to Donald were by definition criminal in nature.

2018: Psychological profile asserts Fred was anti-Semitic

In 2018, Justin A. Frank's psychological profile of Donald Trump asserted that Fred Trump was anti-Semitic.

2018: New York Times publishes exposé

In 2018, The New York Times published an exposé revealing that the properties sold in 2004 were valued over 16 times their previously declared worth. Fred and Mary reportedly provided their children with over $1 billion altogether, which should have been taxed at the rate of 55% for gifts and inheritances, but records show that a total of only $52.2 million (about 5%) was paid.

2018: The New York Times Report on Family Finances

In 2018, The New York Times reported that Fred and Mary Trump provided over $1 billion to their children, evading over $500 million in gift taxes.

February 1, 2019: Investigation of Maryanne Trump Barry

By February 1, 2019, Maryanne Trump Barry was being investigated for possible judicial misconduct regarding the schemes, but this was mooted later in the month due to her retirement.

2020: Fact-checking company conclusion

In mid-2020, the fact-checking company Logically concluded that there was a lack of clear evidence that Fred Trump was a Nazi supporter.

2020: MeidasTouch cited empty wagon quote

In mid-2020, the political action committee MeidasTouch cited the "empty wagon" quote from Fred Trump's Horatio Alger Association speech, arguing that Donald Trump squandered the fortune he inherited. Also in 2020, Mary L. Trump claimed in her book that Donald dismissed and derided Fred when he began to succumb to Alzheimer's, and asserted Fred was a high-functioning sociopath.

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man

Check it on Amazon

2021: Donald's disparaging remarks about Germans

In 2021, according to a book about Donald Trump's last year as president, Donald spoke disparagingly of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, using a slur and referring to his father as "the biggest kraut of them all."

2023: Media Outlets Highlighted Fred's Arrests

Following Donald Trump's arrest in New York in 2023, some media outlets pointed out that his father, Fred Trump, had been arrested twice.

2023: Inflation adjustment of 2018 amount

In 2023, the $413 million Donald Trump received from Fred's business empire in 2018 equates to $483.6 million, and the $60.7 million in loans equates to $163.9 million.

2024: Donald's claim about father's advice

During his 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump said that his father had told him to never say "Nazi" or mention Hitler.

2024: Article Claims Denial of Emotional Nourishment

In 2024, an article in Clio's Psyche claimed that Fred Trump denied Donald of "basic, life-affirming emotional nourishment", resulting in Donald's "absence of moral responsibility".