Fred Trump III on His Uncle: “He Just Doesn’t Give a S— About Them”
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Joe Raedle
Fred Trump III made waves on MSNBC over the Labor Day holiday when he bluntly criticized former President Donald Trump, using a reference to “The Godfather 2” to describe his uncle’s attitude towards the military.
During an interview with host Nicolle Wallace, Fred Trump III responded to his uncle’s controversial appearance at Arlington National Cemetery, where the former president was seen smiling and posing for photos with Gold Star families—a move Wallace described as “performative” and disrespectful.
Wallace highlighted how Donald Trump “shamefully employs” the tactic of using veterans and their families as “political props” in every campaign. She pointed out that the former president’s recent actions at Arlington, where recording campaign materials is prohibited, continue a pattern of behavior that many find offensive.
Fred Trump III, who recently published a tell-all book about his family titled All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way, shared his thoughts on his uncle’s history of avoiding military service. He recounted how Donald Trump used a draft deferment at Fordham University and then secured further deferments after his father, Fred Trump Sr., helped him get into the University of Pennsylvania. Eventually, a “bone spur scheme” orchestrated by his father and a podiatrist moved Donald from “1A” (eligible for service) to “1Y” (deferred).
When asked about Donald Trump’s alleged “suckers and losers” comment regarding veterans, Fred Trump III didn’t hold back. He explained that his uncle views anyone he deems “lesser than him” as a “loser,” including people with disabilities. “That’s just the way he is. That ain’t going to change,” he said.
Fred Trump III expressed disbelief at why some military members continue to support his uncle, despite his apparent disdain for them. Reflecting on a previous interview with National Defense Radio, he said, “I basically told this story and I said that ‘he just doesn’t give a s— about them. He just doesn’t.'”
In a powerful comparison, Fred Trump III likened Donald Trump’s attitude towards the military to a scene from The Godfather 2. “It’s the great Godfather 2, one of the last scenes when Sonny says, ‘Country ain’t your blood, kid.’ Michael Corleone says, ‘No, I don’t believe that.’ Donald believes in Donald,” he concluded, emphasizing his uncle’s self-centered nature.
