Trump Falsely Claims Father Was Born in Germany During Meeting with German Chancellor

During an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on March 3, 2026, President Donald Trump, 79, incorrectly stated that his father was born in Germany. In reality, Fred Trump was born in the Bronx, New York City, in 1905. This is not the first time Trump has made this false claim about his father's birthplace - he has repeated this same falsehood multiple times since at least 2019. The repeated inaccuracy has drawn criticism and raised concerns about the president's mental acuity. Trump's niece, Mary Trump, later corrected him on social media, confirming that Fred Trump Sr. was indeed born in New York, not Germany. Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump, was the family member who emigrated from Germany to the United States.

"My father was born in Germany" — Statement made during Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz