Childhood and Education Journey of Fred Trump in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Fred Trump. From birth to education, explore key events.

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

1901: Return to Kallstadt

In 1901, Friedrich Trump returned to Kallstadt, Germany, after amassing wealth during the Klondike Gold Rush.

1904: Birth of First Child Elizabeth and Return to Kallstadt

In 1904, Friedrich and Elizabeth Trump's first child, Elizabeth, was born in New York City, after which the family returned to Kallstadt.

July 1, 1905: Family Returns to New York

On July 1, 1905, Fred Trump's family returned to New York City and settled in the Bronx.

October 11, 1905: Birth of Frederick Christ Trump Sr.

On October 11, 1905, Frederick Christ Trump Sr. was born. He later became a prominent American real-estate developer and businessman.

1907: Birth of John G. Trump

In 1907, John G. Trump, Fred's younger brother, was born.

September 1908: Family Move to Woodhaven, Queens

In September 1908, Fred Trump's family relocated to Woodhaven, Queens.

1918: Father's Death and High School

In 1918, Fred Trump's father died during the flu pandemic. From 1918 to 1923, Fred attended Richmond Hill High School in Queens while working various jobs.

January 1923: Full-Time Work and Carpentry Studies

In January 1923, Fred Trump began full-time work pulling lumber to construction sites and studying carpentry.

1923: High School Graduation

In 1923, Fred Trump graduated from Richmond Hill High School.

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.

January 11, 1936: Fred Trump marries Mary Anne MacLeod

On January 11, 1936, Fred Trump married Mary Anne MacLeod at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. A wedding reception was held at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan, and they had a single-night honeymoon in Atlantic City.

1937: Birth of Maryanne Trump Barry

In 1937, Fred and Mary Trump's first child, Maryanne Trump Barry, was born.

1938: Birth of Fred Trump Jr.

In 1938, Fred and Mary Trump's second child, Fred Trump Jr., was born.

1941: Backed Jewish and Israeli causes

In 1941, particularly after the U.S. entry into World War II, Fred Trump backed both Jewish and Israeli causes. This included supporting Israel Bonds and donating the land for the Beach Haven Jewish Center.

1941: Supported Jewish causes

In 1941, partly due to the prominence of Jews in New York, Fred Trump supported Jewish causes, with contributions that convinced some he practiced Judaism. This support started two weeks after the U.S. entered World War II.

1942: Birth of Elizabeth Trump Grau

In 1942, Fred and Mary Trump's third child, Elizabeth Trump Grau, was born.

1946: Birth of Donald Trump

In 1946, Fred and Mary Trump's fourth child, Donald Trump, was born.

1948: Birth of Robert Trump

In 1948, Fred and Mary Trump's fifth child, Robert Trump, was born.

1961: Contributed to city politicians

In 1961, Fred Trump, registered as a Republican, contributed to Democratic city politicians in New York, including $2,500 to Mayor Wagner's campaign, which enabled the construction of Trump Village.

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.

1986: News article concerning political donations

In 1986, the FBI released a small file it had on Fred Trump, which includes a news article concerning political donations by Trump Management.

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.

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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.

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: Donated property to NKF

In 1992, Fred Trump donated one of his least profitable properties to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). According to The New York Times, it was one of the largest charitable donations he ever made, and he claimed a deduction proportional to its stated value of $34 million on his tax return.

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".

1993: Fred attends Donald's wedding to Marla Maples

In 1993, despite being designated as the best man, Fred Trump needed to be reminded why he was at Donald's wedding (to Marla Maples).

June 25, 1999: Death of Frederick Christ Trump Sr.

On June 25, 1999, Frederick Christ Trump Sr. passed away. He was known as an American real-estate developer and the father of Donald Trump.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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".