US President Donald Trump has once again incorrectly claimed that his father, Fred Trump, was born in Germany. The remark came during an Oval Office press briefing on Tuesday (3 March) while Trump was meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During the discussion, which also touched on the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran and rising tensions in the Middle East, Trump criticized several European countries for what he described as a lack of cooperation. He singled out Spain and the United Kingdom, accusing them of damaging international relationships and threatening potential trade consequences.
While speaking about his connection to Europe, Trump said: “My mother was born there,” referring to the United Kingdom, and then added that his father had also been born in Germany. However, historical records show this is incorrect. Fred Trump was actually born in the Bronx, New York City, in 1905. Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born in Scotland and moved to the United States as a teenager.
The confusion appears to stem from Trump’s grandparents on his father’s side. Frederick Trump and Elizabeth Christ Trump emigrated from Germany to the United States in the late 19th century. Frederick Trump arrived in America in 1885, seeking economic opportunity, and later ran businesses serving miners during the Gold Rush.
After returning briefly to Germany in 1901 to marry Elisabeth, the couple attempted to settle there again a few years later. However, Frederick was expelled by German authorities for failing to complete mandatory military service. The couple then returned to the United States, where their son Fred Trump was born in New York. This is not the first time Trump has made the mistake. He made similar claims during interviews in 2018, 2019, and 2020, repeatedly stating that his father was born in Germany.
