The art of Don the Con
From Drumpf to Trump
How two generations of Trumps paved the way for Donald by lying, cheating, and grifting their way to the top
Friedrich Drumpf, family patriarch
Founder of the family fortune, draft dodger, brothel owner
Yes, it’s true that Donald Trump has German ancestry. (I get asked this a lot, especially when people want to compare him to the infamous German dictator). Donald’s paternal grandfather, Friedrich Drumpf (1869–1918), grew up in Germany’s Kallstadt region and got his working start as a barber’s apprentice. But at the mere age of 16, Friedrich wanted more.
The Drumpf family had long owned and maintained a vineyard in their small German village; young Friedrich wanted neither to continue that legacy, nor further pursue work as a barber. So he decided to immigrate to North America. By doing this, he also conveniently managed to dodge the draft. Though military service was compulsory, Friedrich evaded serving since he was too young to enlist when he left Germany, and too old when he returned, at the age of 35.
In addition to evading the military and failing to notify authorities, young Friedrich also left his home in…
