Frederick Trump A Pimp and a Drug Dealer?
There have been a number of fake news articles circulating the web in recent years. In 2015, an article surfaced on facebook written called “Trump’s Grandfather Was a Pimp and Tax Evader; His Father a Member of the KKK.” . by Tim King that asserted the claim that “Trumps grandfather was a pimp and a tax evader; his father a member of the KKK.” These allegations are not true.
Facebook, a commonly used social media site, has single handledly delivered fake news to the hands of viewers for years. According to Businessinsider.com, Facebook has made an attempt on stopping the fake news circling the internet but has failed to do so. Over 100 fake news stories on facebook have been read 150 million times, enough to reach ever registered voter. One Such fake news article has made Extensive allegations toward the trump family and grandfather of president trump, such as, the sale of prostitution, KKK involvement and tax evasion. Although there is a hint of truth to this, Fredereick trump was not involved in the KKK and was not a “pimp” and did not make his fortune off prostitution.
According to www.todayifoundout.com Frederick trump came to America as a German Immigrant, His first job in the U.S was as a humble barber, with no real inheritance or upbringing. Frederick moved because there wasn't enough people in his home town in Germany to support a local barber. Frederick later leased a restaurant in Seattle called the “Poodle Dog” Where they offered private rooms for men to be pleasured. The Poodle Dog was one of many saloons at the time to offer this to customers. This is perhaps where the accusation of being a “pimp” or a drug dealer came from, as the saloon also served alcohol.
Frederick Trumps capital venture as a saloon owner was very short lived, as the government began to crack down on this type of business, loud and obnoxious salloons that offered this treatment to customers. Although he profited from the saloon, his wealth mostly came from his business sense. He later retired with a small fortune of $32,000 after working a humble life in the hotel business and working in Real Estate.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2969767076442888&set=a.291220294297593&type=3&theater
The article also makes a brief mention of Fred Trump (Donald Trumps father) being apart of the KKK. (Ku Klux Klan) According to https://apnews.com/article/8031790022 these rumors came from a photoshopped image of trump with his parents wearing robes from the KKK. This image was proven to be manipulated and continues to circulate on the internet for a short time before being taken down.
Fake news articles can give false information that can give the audience a negative view on a figure whose not guilty of the given accusation. Articles such as this one by Tim King purposely shed negative light on authority figures for nothing more than publicity. Frederick Trump and Fred Trump both had false accusations about their past that was proven false, yet the information gets continually resurfaced to stir the people and cause commotion.
Work Cited
“Trump’s Grandfather Was a Pimp and Tax Evader; His Father a Member of the KKK.” American Herald Tribune, ahtribune.com/us/2016-election/242-trump-grandfather-pimp-father-kkk.html.
Gilbert, Ben. “The 10 Most-Viewed Fake-News Stories on Facebook in 2019 Were Just Revealed in a New Report.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 6 Nov. 2019, www.businessinsider.com/most-viewed-fake-news-stories-shared-on-facebook-2019-2019-11.’
Smallwood, Karl. “Coming to America: The Life of Frederick Trump.” Today I Found Out, 24 June 2020, www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2020/06/coming-america-life-frederick-trump/.
“Shelia Corley.” Shelia Corley — Is This Yall President??…, www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2969767076442888.
Seitz, Amanda. “Photo Has Been Edited to Show Trump’s Parents Wearing KKK Robes.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 29 Oct. 2019, apnews.com/article/8031790022.