For decades, Trump claimed his grandfather came from Sweden. Both of Fred Trump's parents were actually German. Fred Trump lied about his ancestry due to anti-German sentiment. Trump perpetuated the family lie for years.
Decades of Lying About Swedish Ancestry
Key Facts4
- 01For decades claimed grandfather came from Sweden
- 02Fred Trump originally lied due to anti-German sentiment in early 20th century
- 03Trump perpetuated the family lie throughout his business career
- 04Eventually confirmed German ancestry was true
Sources4
Verified across 4 sources — investigations, news reports