Fact Check: "Trump withheld medical care from his grandnephew."
What We Know
The claim that Donald Trump withheld medical care from his grandnephew is rooted in events that transpired after the death of his father, Fred Trump Sr., in 1999. Following Fred Sr.'s passing, a family dispute arose regarding his will, which largely excluded the family of his deceased son, Fred Jr. (known as Freddy). According to David Cay Johnston, the author of The Making of Donald Trump, medical insurance had been provided to Freddy's family through Fred Sr.'s company, which was crucial for the care of Freddy's son, who suffered from seizures and later developed cerebral palsy.
After the will was read, which Donald Trump reportedly helped draft, Freddy's children contested it, alleging that it had been "procured by fraud and undue influence" (source-1). A week after the lawsuit was filed, Freddy's son received a letter stating that his son's health insurance would be discontinued, leaving the child without coverage. Trump himself admitted to the New York Daily News that this decision was motivated by anger over the lawsuit, stating, "Why should we give him medical coverage?" (source-1).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from multiple credible sources, including Mother Jones and The Independent, which detail the timeline of events and Trump's motivations. The narrative is consistent across these reports: after the will's reading, the Trump family withdrew financial support for medical care as a form of retaliation against Freddy's children for contesting the will (source-1, source-2).
The reliability of these sources is bolstered by their established reputations in investigative journalism. Mother Jones is known for its in-depth political reporting, while The Independent has a long history of covering significant political and social issues. Additionally, The New Yorker and Salon have also reported on this incident, providing further corroboration of the claim (source-3, source-4).
While some may argue that family disputes are complex and that Trump's actions could be seen in a different light, the direct admission of withholding medical care due to a lawsuit indicates a clear motive and action taken against his grandnephew's needs. The statements made by Trump himself lend further credence to the claim, as they reflect a personal acknowledgment of the situation (source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that Donald Trump withheld medical care from his grandnephew is True. The evidence indicates that Trump's decision to cut off health coverage was a retaliatory action against his family following a legal dispute over inheritance. The consistency of reports from multiple reputable sources, along with Trump's own admissions, supports this conclusion.
Sources
- This story about Trump cutting off health coverage for his sick nephew ... Mother Jones
- Donald Trump cut off medical funds to nephew's sick baby because he was ... The Independent
- Trump cut off nephew's medical care for cerebral palsy during dispute ... Salon
- What Sort of Man Is Donald Trump? - The New Yorker The New Yorker
- What Happened to Baby William Trump? The Trump Family Conflict Distractify
- Donald Trump denied medical care to severely disabled relative Daily Mail
- ‘Let him die’: Trump’s nephew shares what he says Trump told ... CNN
- The Serious Health Condition Donald Trump's Great-Nephew ... - The List The List
