In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump, who is well-known for abstaining from even a tiny glass of red wine, revealed that his brother, who battled alcoholism for years before passing away too soon, wasn’t the same.
Theo Von, a podcaster with over a million followers on X, sat with Trump in an attempt to attract other, larger internet audiences. Donning a mullet and cowboy boots, Von steered the one-hour conversation towards the topic of booze and tobacco, questioning Trump about why, after decades in the demanding realms of New York real estate, celebrity socializing, and national politics, he never developed either habit. He claimed that the reason he has been sober for all these years was witnessing his brother’s personal addictions and tragic death.
“I had a wonderful brother who taught me a lesson: don’t drink, don’t drink,” said the former president. “And he smoked, he said don’t smoke, and he drank. He was a great guy. He was handsome, very handsome guy, quite a bit older, and he had a problem with alcohol, smoked a lot.” Speaking for himself, Trump said he gets by on “no drugs, no drinking, no cigarettes. I tell that to my kids all the time.” Fred Trump Jr., who died of a heart attack at age 42, was in many ways a mentor to his young brother. “He was old enough that you’d look up to somebody.” Asked if he admired his brother, Trump admitted, “Yeah, I admired him a lot. So much about him. He had so much going, the look, unbelievable personality.”
The two men were raised as the sons of Scottish immigrant Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who became a naturalized citizen in 1942, and Fred Trump, a successful Manhattan real estate tycoon in his own right. Two years after their 1936 wedding, Fred Trump, Jr. was born. In 1946, eight years later, Trump was born. Both young men briefly carried on their father’s business of growing his real estate company into a family enterprise. But Fred Jr.’s choice to become an airline pilot was what ultimately caused their father and son to become estranged. His severe drinking by the early 1970s led to his discharge from the military, which ultimately played a role in his death in 1981.
“He had a problem with alcohol,” Trump continued. “He got addicted to it because – and you know they say alcohol is tougher than drugs to get off of,” he said, explaining how he became dependent on it. Von expressed empathy, stating that he had spent the majority of the previous ten years in recovery. When Trump asked the host if it was tougher to kick a drink or quit drugs, she responded that it was harder to kick a drink since it is so common at social gatherings and at the dinner table. He made a joke, saying, “If everybody goes to a dinner and [is] eating, like Xanaxes or something, for appetizers.”
Returning attention to his brother, Trump said that even as a teetotaler, he could see the warning signs of addiction. “I was amazed because he had so much going, had everything going. I think it probably happened in college, at a fraternity maybe, or somewhere along the line it happened. This is a very common story unfortunately, and then the family would see it and start to notice it. It didn’t get better,” he bemoaned.
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These days, President Trump is grateful for his prodigy Barron, who will be attending college in the fall, and his wife Melania. Following the July assassination attempt on Trump’s life, both have actively participated in his reelection campaign and showered him with love and family.
