Аннотация: I studied the issue of D. Trump's origin in more detail, and not as in my earlier work from 2020: https://samlib.ru/k/kuznecow_mihail_jurxewich/donaldtrumpsjewishroots-45thpresidentoftheunitedstates.shtml
The question of the nationality and religious affiliation of Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, and his family has garnered significant interest, particularly regarding speculations about possible Jewish roots. In this essay, I will examine claims that Donald Trump is Jewish and analyze the nationality and religious affiliation of his family members, relying on available sources.
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is neither Jewish by nationality nor by religious affiliation. His ancestry is well-documented as being of German and Scottish descent. His father, Frederick Christ Trump (1905-1999), was the son of a German immigrant from the Kingdom of Bavaria, Friedrich Trump, and his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod (1912-2000), was Scottish by origin (Blair, 2015). Thus, by blood, Donald Trump is of German-Scottish descent, and there are no documented records indicating Jewish ancestry in his genealogical tree.
Regarding religion, Donald Trump was raised in the Presbyterian Church, as he has mentioned in several speeches. In 2020, he stated that he no longer identifies solely as a Presbyterian but considers himself a "non-denominational Christian" (Detroit Free Press 2025). There is no credible evidence suggesting that Trump has ever practiced Judaism or converted to it. Claims that he is Jewish are unsupported by reliable sources and are likely speculative.
Donald Trump"s Family
Donald Trump has five children from three marriages and eleven grandchildren.
Wives of Donald Trump
Ivana Marie Trump (née Zelníčková, 1949-2022) was Czech, born in Zlín, Czechoslovakia (Blair, 2015). Ivana Trump was raised in a Catholic environment typical of Czechoslovakia at the time. Ivana Trump was the first wife of Donald Trump (married 1977-1992).
Marla Maples (born 1963) was the second wife of Donald Trump (married 1993-1999). Maples is American, presumably of European descent (exact ethnic roots are not specified in sources) and was raised in a Christian (Protestant) tradition, though her specific religious affiliation is not confirmed (Blair 2015).
Melania Trump (née Knavs, born 1970) is Slovenian, born in Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia. Her family tree includes individuals from Austria-Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Slovenia, with no evidence of Jewish ancestry (Blair, 2015). Melania Trump is Catholic. Melania Trump is the second First Lady in U.S. history to practice Catholicism (CNN 2017). Melania Trump is the third wife of Donald Trump (since 2005).
Children of Donald Trump
Donald Trump Jr. (born 1977) is American and Christian, of German-Scottish (paternal) and Czech (maternal, Ivana) descent.
The spouse of Donald Trump Jr. is Vanessa Trump (née Haydon, married 2005-2018). Vanessa Trump is American, presumably of European descent.
Ivanka Trump (born 1981) is American, of German-Scottish (paternal) and Czech (maternal) descent. Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism in 2009 before marrying Jared Kushner. She underwent an Orthodox conversion process and took the Hebrew name Yael (Kranish & Fisher 2016). Ivanka Trump"s spouse, Jared Kushner (born 1981), is an American of Jewish descent. His family originates from the Jewish community that emigrated from Eastern Europe. Jared is a practicing Orthodox Jew. Ivanka and Jared raise their children (Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore) in the traditions of Judaism.
Eric Trump (born 1984) is American and Christian, of German-Scottish and Czech descent. Eric Trump"s spouse, Lara Trump (born 1982), is American, presumably of European descent.
Tiffany Trump (born 1993) is American and Christian, of German-Scottish (paternal) and European (maternal, Marla) descent. Tiffany Trump"s spouse, Michael Boulos (born 1997), is American of Lebanese descent and a Christian (Maronite).
Barron Trump (born 2006) is American and likely Catholic, of German-Scottish (paternal) and Slovenian (maternal) descent.
Grandchildren of Donald Trump
Among Donald Trump"s eleven grandchildren (children of Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany), Jewish ancestry and Jewish faith are confirmed only for the children of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner:
Arabella Rose Kushner (born 2011), Joseph Frederick Kushner (born 2013), and Theodore James Kushner (born 2016) are Americans of Jewish descent through their father (Jared Kushner). They are raised in the traditions of Orthodox Judaism (in Jewish tradition, Jewish descent is determined through the mother, so they are not considered "purely" Jewish by blood but are Jewish by faith).
Claims that Donald Trump is Jewish are not supported by available sources. His German-Scottish ancestry is well-documented, and there are no credible records of Jewish ancestors. Speculations may stem from his support for Israel and ties to the Jewish community through his daughter Ivanka"s marriage to Jared Kushner. Additionally, in the past, Fred Trump (1905-1999), Donald"s father, claimed Swedish roots to avoid anti-German sentiment during World War II, which may have caused confusion regarding his ethnic background (Blair 2015).
Trump is known for his pro-Israel policies, including the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel"s capital and the Golan Heights as part of Israel (Landler, 2017). This, along with a reported visit in 2024 to the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994), may create an impression of closeness to the Jewish community, but it does not indicate his personal religious or ethnic affiliation (JewishInsider 2024).
Conclusion
Donald Trump and his immediate family (except for his daughter Ivanka"s family) are neither Jewish by nationality nor by religious affiliation. The only family members associated with Judaism are:
Ivanka Trump (converted to Judaism in 2009).
Jared Kushner (Jewish by descent and an Orthodox Jew by faith).
Ivanka and Jared"s children (raised in the traditions of Judaism).
All other family members, including Donald Trump, his wives, and other children, are of European descent (German, Scottish, Czech, Slovenian) and were raised in Christian traditions (Presbyterianism or Catholicism).
References
Blair, G. (2015). The Trumps: Three generations that built an empire. Simon & Schuster.
CNN. (2017). https://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/25/politics/melania-trump-catholic
Detroit Free Press. (2025). https://subscribe.freep.com/restricted?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.freep.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fmichigan%2F2025%2F05%2F05%2Ftrump-pope-post-outrage-jokes-controversy%2F83452284007%2F&gps-source=CPROADBLOCKDH&itm_source=roadblock&itm_medium=onsite&itm_campaign=premiumroadblock&gca-cat=p
JewishInsider. (2024). Trump makes first visit to Lubavitcher rebbe"s gravesite. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/trump-makes-first-visit-to-lubavitcher-rebbes-gravesite/
Kranish, M., & Fisher, M. (2016). Trump revealed: An American journey of ambition, ego, money, and power. Scribner.
Landler, M. (2017, December 6). Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel"s capital and orders U.S. embassy to move. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/world/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-israel-capital.html