What you need to know about Donald Trump’s parents

Before serving as president of the United States, Donald Trump was already a well-known public figure. The former president was known for his business ventures, including building large hotels, opening casinos, writing books, owning a football team, creating a board game, marketing steaks, and having his wine brand. He also gained fame from his reality television show 'The Apprentice,' where he trained people to succeed in business. However, he did not come from humble beginnings. The Trump family had been building wealth for generations before Donald. Frederick Christ Trump, Donald Trump's father, was born into wealth, but not nearly as much as his son would amass. Fred, born in 1905, was the son of an illegal German immigrant and a successful businessman, Friedrich Trump. Friedrich Trump was born in 1869 to German parents in the small town of Kallstadt. The family-owned a vineyard but struggled financially, according to All That's Interesting. After his father's death, Johannes Trump, Friedrich attended barber school but failed to find work. He then ventured to the United States. However, Friedrich died at the age of 48 after contracting the Spanish Flu in 1918. He left his wealth to his wife and three children, including Frederick Trump, who was then 12 years old. Donald Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in 1912 on the Isle of Lewis. She was one of 10 children born to an impoverished family. Her father, Malcolm MacLeod, was a fisherman who farmed a small land parcel. Mary MacLeod, the mother of Maryanne Trump, lived on Long Island with her sister and worked primarily as a housekeeper or nanny. In the 1930s, she met Frederick Trump (above, far right), and they fell in love. They married in 1936 and had five children: Maryanne, Frederick Christ Jr., Elizabeth, Donald, and Robert Trump. As the family gained wealth, Mary Anne Trump no longer worked as a nanny or housekeeper. Eventually, the family hired their Scottish housekeeper. Mary Anne became more involved in community service, volunteering for local hospitals, the Boy Scouts of America, charities, and the Salvation Army, among other organizations, according to The Scotsman. According to The New Yorker, Donald Trump attributed much of his eccentric and glamorous lifestyle to his mother. Donald held his mother in high regard. He even named a room in Mar-A-Lago after her. He often compared other women to his mother, who he felt was superior to anyone he was with. Frederick and Mary Anne Trump faced many controversies and hardships, including legal and financial troubles. Britannica said Fred Trump was investigated for misusing federal loans intended for affordable housing development. It was discovered that he had developed an apartment property for $3.7 million less than the federal loan he received, resulting in the revocation of his right to federal loan guarantees. In 1973, Trump Management was sued by the Department of Justice for discriminating against African American tenants. The Trump family had also faced accusations of racist business practices. Despite these controversies, the Trump business empire continued to grow, eventually including a future president of the United States. Fred Trump passed away in 1999 at 93, and Mary Anne Trump passed away the following year at 88 (via The Scotsman). The Trump family has significantly influenced modern politics for over three generations. It's interesting to consider how different things might be if a German immigrant had yet to journey thousands of miles from home.