President Donald Trump is one of the most popular political figures in history. Before he began his political journey, he was a businessman and a real estate agent who was a “biggie” in New York. People knew him as the real estate mogul who made millions with his sharp wit, skills, and determination. Trump first became the president in 2017 and served the country till 2021 before he returned to power in January 2025. His father, Fred Trump Sr., and mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, both experienced difficult upbringings and life-altering events long before the family rose to prominence.
Fred Trump was a real estate mogul who operated a company called Elizabeth Trump & Son, named after Fred Trump’s mother and himself, which developed properties for middle-class white families in Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The Trump family had three boys and two girls. When the sons were old enough, Donald Trump, Fred Trump Jr., and Robert worked on construction sites and took over the business.
As per The List, Donald Trump’s sisters, Elizabeth and Maryanne, did not work for the family business. Fred Trump Jr. decided to become a pilot and died of alcoholism in 1981 at 42. The tragedy left a lasting impression on Donald Trump, and he chose to be a teetotaler.
Fred Trump Sr.’s early life was equally turbulent. His father, Friedrich Trump, who had made a fortune during the Alaska gold rush, died of pneumonia in 1918 when Fred was just 13. Alas, he had to put on the big boy shoes earlier than he expected as he started selling newspapers and doing odd jobs. This early parentification led to a rigid and demanding nature, which he passed on to his children.
Similarly, Donald Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in 1912 on the remote Isle of Lewis in Scotland. The beautiful tourist place turned into a mess after World War I. With over a thousand local lives lost and widespread economic hardship, Mary joined many young women seeking opportunity in America. Arriving in New York with just $50, she worked as a domestic servant as she served in the mansion of the Carnegies before marrying Fred Trump Sr. and building a new life.
Despite tabloid details that claim that she came on holiday and met Fred Trump by chance. In reality, she struggled for years and lived with her sister, also a Scottish immigrant, as she pursued stability and opportunity. Her initial years in America were far from comfort and glamor, but she never gave up.
In ‘The Art of the Deal,’ Donald Trump reflected on how his father, Fred Trump Sr., shaped his approach to business and leadership: “I learned about toughness in a very tough business … get in, get it done, get it done right, and get out.” Trump also credits his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, for influencing his flair and public style, like how he swore in with her Bible during his oath ceremony in January 2025.
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Mary Anne also faced serious health challenges, which included a severe hemorrhage that led to multiple surgeries and a near-death experience after her last pregnancy in 1948. Her hemorrhage also affected her physical ability to function normally, all of which began after a violent mugging in 1991. (While shopping in Queens on October 31, a 16-year-old attacker stole her purse containing just $14, threw her to the ground, and beat her up.)
Narrator: “Fred Trump taught his son how to be tough, and from childhood on, Donald Trump had his own builder’s vision.”
Donald Trump’s mother, Mary Trump, on his son Donald: “He used to build the most beautiful buildings with building equipment, everything. He was great, even… pic.twitter.com/IZNJAbt9KQ
— Wojciech Pawelczyk (@WojPawelczyk) December 5, 2024
Fred Trump Sr. eventually developed Alzheimer’s and dementia, but his strict and robust nature, coming from a place of wanting to be disciplined and perfect, affected his recovery. Fred was going to work every day, and his mental deterioration prompted internal family conflict over inheritance, which strained the relationship between the Trump brothers.
People claim that Donald Trump’s ruthless, cold, and radical leadership style of governance has stemmed from Fred Trump’s upbringing and the trauma Donald saw after Fred Trump Jr. died, as he succumbed to alcohol addiction after not keeping up with his father’s expectations.
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In addition, Mary Ann’s alarming mugging incident, where she broke her ribs and injured her face with permanent damage to her sight and hearing, made Donald Trump enforce strict laws against the crime as he wrote in his book that “the Trumps believe in getting even.”
These instances prove that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, but only if you are brave enough to reach the end. The story reflects how ambition can shape a family dynasty, offering insight into the mindset of one of the oldest presidents in the history of America.
