Author Michael Wolff describes him as an “uncompromising, unscrupulous, amoral man.” As one whose descendants had “suffered for a long time and done everything to receive their father’s approval.” Not everyone succeeded. The eldest son failed and drank himself to death. His brother fled to another life. Things went better for the sisters: one became an executive at a large bank, the other a judge. Only the youngest son came closest to patriarch Fred Trump’s merciless expectations: Donald.
The Trumps are from Kallstadt, Germany
Michael Wolff has written several times about this New York family, whose mostly dubious fame began in the 1930s. Fred Trump, the offspring of German immigrant Friedrich Trump, became a multimillionaire by building countless social housing projects. Son Donald inherited a real estate empire, which he expanded to include skyscrapers, casinos and golf courses.
But Donald wanted more. In the 80s he became famous, first in New York and later nationwide, for all sorts of private and business escapades, his name becoming a brand and for some Trumps also a liability. However, very few family members lack self-confidence and so his children and now their children are also looking for their place in the public spotlight.
