Fact Check: Trump Housing Case 1973
What We Know
In 1973, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, his father Fred Trump, and Trump Management for alleged racial discrimination in housing practices. The lawsuit claimed that the Trumps had refused to rent apartments in their predominantly white buildings to Black applicants. Evidence presented during the case indicated that applications from Black individuals were marked with a "C" for "colored," suggesting a discriminatory practice (AP News). The case was settled in 1975 without any admission of guilt from the Trumps, which Trump has often highlighted in his statements (NPR).
The settlement did not require the Trumps to acknowledge wrongdoing, but the government noted that they had "failed and neglected" to comply with the Fair Housing Act (AP News). Trump's assertion that the lawsuit was brought against "many real estate firms" is incorrect; it specifically targeted his family's business (AP News).
Analysis
The claim that the 1973 housing discrimination case against Donald Trump was settled "without any admission of guilt" is accurate. The settlement allowed Trump and his father to avoid admitting to the allegations while agreeing to adhere to fair housing practices in the future. This aspect of the case has been consistently reported by credible sources, including the Associated Press and NPR.
However, Trump's assertion that the lawsuit was against "many real estate firms" is misleading. The lawsuit was specific to the Trump family and their management company, as detailed in historical accounts and legal documents (New York Times). The sources used in this analysis, including government records and news articles, are reliable and provide a comprehensive view of the events surrounding the lawsuit.
Conclusion
The claim that the Trump housing case from 1973 was settled "without any admission of guilt" is True. The settlement indeed did not require an admission of guilt from Donald Trump or his father. However, the context of the case reveals that it was a significant legal action specifically targeting their discriminatory practices, contradicting Trump's assertion that it involved multiple real estate firms.
Sources
- AP FACT CHECK: Trump on discrimination in his business
- No Vacancies for Blacks: How Donald Trump Got His Start ...
- Donald Trump's Housing Discrimination Case Still Chases Him
- Trump Management Company
- Black Applicants Rejected for Trump Housing Speak Out
- Settlement Agreement Trump Village Section IV Inc.
- Case: United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump, and Trump ...
- Major Landlord Accused Of Antiblack Bias in City
