Trump Wrongly Claims His Father Was Born in Germany

Mary Trump calls out her uncle's mistake, saying Fred Trump Sr. was born in New York City.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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During a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Trump incorrectly stated that his father, Fred Trump Sr., was born in Germany. However, Mary Trump, the president's estranged niece, took to social media to correct the record, noting that her grandfather was actually born in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in Queens.

Why it matters

Trump's claim about his father's birthplace is inaccurate and contradicts well-established facts about the Trump family history. This mistake raises questions about the president's attention to detail and his grasp of his own family's background.

The details

In the meeting with Chancellor Merz, Trump said, 'My father was born—he knows all about my father—my father was born there.' However, according to a New York Times obituary, Fred Trump Sr. was born in New York City in 1905. Trump's grandfather, Fred Trump Sr.'s father, was the one who was born in Germany.

  • On March 4, 2026, President Trump incorrectly stated that his father was born in Germany during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
  • On the same day, Mary Trump responded on social media, correcting her uncle's claim and stating that Fred Trump Sr. was born in the Bronx, New York.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Mary Trump

The estranged niece of Donald Trump and the author of the tell-all book 'Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man'.

Fred Trump Sr.

The father of Donald Trump, who was born in New York City in 1905, not in Germany.

Friedrich Merz

The current Chancellor of Germany, who met with President Trump.

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What they’re saying

“This is not the kind of insider knowledge most people have access to, but my grandfather, Fred Trump, Sr., was not born in Germany; he was born in the Bronx, NY, and grew up in Woodhaven, Queens--something you'd think his favorite son would know.”

— Mary Trump (X)

“Mary Trump is a stone-old [sic] loser who doesn't have a clue about anything.”

— Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director (Newsweek)

What’s next

The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on President Trump's incorrect statement about his father's birthplace.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of public figures, especially the President of the United States, being accurate about their own family history and background. It also raises questions about the Trump family's relationship and the reliability of the president's recollections.