Fact Check: Trump cut his family out of his father's will

Fact Check: "Trump cut his family out of his father's will"

What We Know

The claim that Donald Trump attempted to cut his family out of his father's will is rooted in a complex history involving financial distress, family dynamics, and legal battles. In the early 1990s, Donald Trump was facing significant financial challenges, which led him to seek control over his father Fred Trump Sr.'s estate. According to a report by The Washington Post, Trump sent an accountant and a lawyer to persuade his elderly father to sign a document that would change his will in a way that favored Donald Trump. At the time, Fred Trump Sr. was 85 years old and reportedly suffering from cognitive decline, which raises ethical questions about the validity of the changes made to his will (The Washington Post).

Mary Trump, Donald's niece, has been vocal about her belief that her uncle's actions were unethical, stating that he sought to alter the will in a way that would benefit himself at the expense of his siblings (The Washington Post). This family conflict has been exacerbated by ongoing legal disputes over inheritance, with Mary Trump alleging that she was defrauded out of her rightful share (Reuters).

Analysis

The evidence surrounding the claim is multifaceted. On one hand, there are credible reports indicating that Donald Trump did attempt to change his father's will during a time when Fred Trump Sr. was experiencing cognitive issues (The Washington Post). This effort is described as a means for Donald Trump to secure greater control over the estate, which would have significant implications for his siblings and their inheritances.

However, it is important to note that while Donald Trump sought to change the will, the extent to which he succeeded in "cutting out" family members is less clear. The will was ultimately not altered in the way he intended, as his sister Maryanne Trump Barry intervened to prevent the changes (The Washington Post). Thus, while there was an attempt to alter the will, it did not result in a complete exclusion of his siblings from their father's estate.

The sources used in this analysis are generally reliable, with The Washington Post and Reuters being established news organizations. However, as with any reporting on family disputes, there may be biases present, particularly from family members involved in the conflict. Mary Trump's statements, while significant, may also reflect her personal grievances against her uncle, which could influence her portrayal of events.

Conclusion

The claim that Donald Trump cut his family out of his father's will is Partially True. While he did attempt to change the will in a way that would have favored him, the changes were not successfully implemented, and his siblings were not ultimately excluded from their father's estate. The situation reflects a complicated family dynamic and raises ethical questions about the influence of cognitive decline on such decisions.