Fred Trump III Advocates for Disability Rights, Criticizes Family

The nephew of former President Donald Trump has become a vocal advocate for the disabled community, at odds with his famous relative's policies.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:31am

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Fred Trump III, the nephew of former President Donald Trump, has emerged as a different kind of Trump - one focused on advocating for the disabled community and criticizing his uncle's policies. After his son William was born with a rare genetic disorder, Trump III has dedicated himself to fighting for increased research funding, caregiver support, and housing options for people with disabilities. He has been disappointed by setbacks under both the Bush and Trump administrations, and has publicly broken with his family by supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. Though he was initially rebuffed, Trump III had hoped to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 on a platform of expanding Medicare coverage for home care. His memoir, "All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got That Way," has also drawn attention for its candid criticisms of his uncle's treatment of the disabled.

Why it matters

Fred Trump III's advocacy work and public break from his famous uncle highlights the growing divide within the Trump family and the challenges facing the disability community. As a member of the Trump family, his perspective provides unique insight into the political dynamics around healthcare and disability policy. His efforts to support his son William and others with disabilities also underscore the real-world impacts of policy decisions on families dealing with severe medical conditions.

The details

After his son William was born in 1999 with a rare genetic seizure disorder, Fred Trump III and his wife Lisa have become dedicated advocates for the disabled community. They have focused on issues like research funding, caregiver support, housing options, and using data to improve services. However, they have faced setbacks, including the Bush administration's limits on stem cell research, which they saw as a "potential miracle cure," and the Trump administration's cuts to medical research. Trump III wrote in his memoir about private meetings with his uncle and other officials, but says "nothing we were involved in came to fruition." He has also been disappointed that his outreach to the Harris campaign in 2024 was rebuffed, despite his ties to key swing states.

  • In June 1999, Fred and Lisa Trump's son William was born with a rare genetic seizure disorder.
  • In 2016, Fred Trump III privately voted for Hillary Clinton, appreciating her advocacy for voters with disabilities.
  • In 2020, Fred Trump III voted for Joe Biden, who shared some of his priorities like investing in home-based care.
  • In July 2024, Fred Trump III published his memoir "All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got That Way".
  • In September 2024, Fred Trump III offered to campaign for Kamala Harris if asked, but was not ultimately involved in her campaign.

The players

Fred Trump III

The nephew of former President Donald Trump, who has become a vocal advocate for the disabled community after his son William was born with a rare genetic disorder.

Lisa Trump

The wife of Fred Trump III, who has also been heavily involved in advocacy work for the disabled community alongside her husband.

William Trump

The son of Fred and Lisa Trump, who was born in 1999 with a rare genetic seizure disorder and has been the focus of his parents' advocacy efforts.

Donald Trump

The former President and uncle of Fred Trump III, whose policies and statements regarding the disabled community have been criticized by his nephew.

Kamala Harris

The Vice President in 2024, who had pledged to expand Medicare coverage of home care for seniors and disabled people, but did not end up involving Fred Trump III in her campaign despite his outreach.

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What they’re saying

“It's a joke, of course. You need serious people to get things done on health care, and there aren't many around.”

— Fred Trump III

“Putting my businessman hat on, I don't know what they're thinking. People with disabilities 'are going to be in our lives for as long as they're going to be in our lives. If they get sick or ill or you don't take advantage of what's out there to help them . . . they're going to need everything that goes with having a severely disabled person in your life. As opposed to spending the money now' to try to head off problems early in their lives.”

— Fred Trump III

“Happy Thanksgiving to all, and bless the caregivers that take care of my son William and the millions of disabled (determined) in our country. They deserve better pay, and our gratitude.”

— Fred Trump III

What’s next

Fred Trump III's advocacy work and public criticism of his uncle's policies regarding the disabled community is likely to continue, as he remains dedicated to fighting for increased support and resources for people with disabilities. While his outreach to the Harris campaign in 2024 was unsuccessful, he may seek other opportunities to influence the political landscape and raise awareness of the issues facing the disabled community.

The takeaway

Fred Trump III's personal experience caring for his son William and his subsequent advocacy work highlight the real-world impacts of political decisions on families dealing with severe disabilities. His willingness to break from his famous family to champion causes like increased research funding, caregiver support, and housing options for the disabled demonstrates a different kind of Trump - one focused on empathy, compassion, and making a tangible difference in people's lives.