Is Trump German?

Donald Trump is German – American.

It wasn’t really something that many people were interested in knowing until his stance on immigration became apparent during his campaign; but the truth about Donald Trump being German soon came out. Trying to dig up dirt, many reports traced the history of his family back to Germany but it seemed that even Donald himself wasn’t sure which Trump was German.  On more than one occasion, Donald has claimed that his father, Fred Trump, was German and born in Germany.  Of course, many people have called his bluff.  It’s since been proven he wasn’t wrong about the Trumps being German but instead about which Trump was born in Germany.

Trump’s Grandfather was German.

Born in Kallstadt Germany in 1869, Trump’s grandfather was named Friedrich Trump.  He came from a long line of winemakers but he was a hairdresser. He immigrated to the United States from Germany when he was just 16 years old. Learning from a cousin, Henry Heinz – yes from Heinz ketchup – he began to sell something people needed.  Shortly after he became a US citizen, Trump’s German Grandfather capitalized on the people traveling to take part in the Alaska Gold Rush.  His restaurants and hotels would be the first of the Trump empire.  The wealth he accrued providing for people looking for gold would eventually turn into a Presidential legacy.

But Trump and Germany had strong ties

After he became a citizen, he changed the spelling of his name to reflect his new American citizenship.  Friedrich Trump became Frederick Trump and father to Fred Trump, real estate developer and Father of Donald Trump. After making his fortune, Fredrick returned to Germany and found love.  In 1902, he married Donald Trump’s German grandmother. They would stay together in Germany until just 3 months before Donald Trump’s father was born in the Bronx.

Some sources claim that Frederick did not plan to stay in America.  These claims weren’t unfounded, as evidence did surface that he was deported from Germany.  After a letter written by Trump’s German grandfather was uncovered, it seemed he was pleading to not be deported and for his rights to stay in Germany.  In the summer of 1905, he and his wife boarded a ship to America, which some believe to be proof that he was deported in spite of his efforts.

Is Donald Trump German?

Even though both of his grandparents migrated from Germany, his father was born in America, barely. Just three months after the Trump’s were no longer German, Fred Jr. was born.  This Trump would go on develop a large portion of New York city and make millions from the progress of America.  Later, Fred passed on his business and some of those millions to his son, Donald to start his own business.  Donald Trump followed the footsteps of his father and turned his inheritance into a fortune and then later a successful Presidential campaign.

Donald Trump and German have been mentioned together quite often since news of his grandfather’s migrant status was found out.  While he technically is not German, his grandfather was and probably still would have been had he not been kicked out for failing to complete the required military duty in Germany.

 

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