Trump nephew hopes his ‘cruel’ uncle can be ‘positive’ president

One person who was not on the stage with Donald Trump is his nephew Fred Trump, who voted for Kamala Harris.

Matt Frei: One would’ve thought, because you’re blood, you’re family, that after such an event – your uncle has been president twice now – that you might be on that stage. Why not?

Fred Trump: Well, he and I have had some big time differences over the past couple of years, namely when he said my son should just die because he has disabilities.

Matt Frei: Did he actually say that?

Fred Trump: He said that. And January 6th was just a turning point, not just in my life, of course, but in the country’s.

Matt Frei: But he wasn’t always like that with you, was he? I think you told me not so long ago, that he taught you how to play golf?

Fred Trump: Yeah, we used to go to the Douglaston driving range in Douglaston, New York, and we’d go to movies together and we spent many good times together.

Matt Frei: You were fond of him.

Fred Trump: He was a good uncle.

Matt Frei: He was fond of you?

Fred Trump: He was, yes. I reminded him of the good things of my father.

Matt Frei: And has that Donald Trump disappeared?

Fred Trump: I think it has, unfortunately. He plays the populist and good for him. People will buy into that. And that’s what’s made him a success. Unfortunately, I think his followers are believing everything he says and that could be a danger.

Matt Frei: But the Donald Trump that moves into the White House again for the second time, what kind of Donald Trump will that be?

Fred Trump: I said often that – is it worth the risk that Donald will put everything or some things behind him and advance the country forward in a positive way? I’m not there yet. As you know, I’m a fierce advocate honouring people with disabilities, like my son William. I think this is now his second chance to try to get on board with that. He said today or last night that he wants to be a president of all the people. People with disabilities are 60, 70 million people strong. So he knows that I am honouring those people and doing everything I can to advocate on their behalf. I would love for him to join that cause.

Matt Frei: And the Donald Trump that was cruel about your son, the Donald Trump that you don’t like, that you didn’t want to see win this election. Where did that Donald Trump come from? Where was he created? How was he created?

Fred Trump: One thing. It’s Donald’s policies and the Republican Party’s policies that I have disagreed with since I was able to vote when I was 18. There’s no doubt about that.

Matt Frei: But character matters.

Fred Trump: Character does matter. And I’ve said time and time again, I was six years old in 1968, Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, pretty damn good role models. And they were my role models. Were their characters 100 per cent?

Matt Frei: But what about Donald Trump? And was it his father, your grandfather? Was it Roy Cohn, his mentor?

Fred Trump: Donald got his drive from my grandfather. Absolutely. And Grandpa was a driven, driven guy. And Roy Cohn was just a very, well Donald would say a great influence on him, I think he was a terrible influence on him. But yes, Roy Cohn lives in Donald.

Matt Frei: And how would you sum up his temperament, Donald Trump’s temperament?

Fred Trump: It’s disturbing. I don’t understand. Maybe it’s just because of the way I am, the way I was brought up by my parents. I just don’t see it. And as tough as my grandfather was, he never went to this level.

Matt Frei: But I mean, how would you describe that temperament? Is it impetuous, is it angry, is it rageful?

Fred Trump: It’s cruel. There’s something in him that doesn’t – he doesn’t even think about something. He just goes for the hard consequence.

Matt Frei: But he can also be quite funny, can’t he? He makes people laugh. Not everyone would agree with that. But I’ve seen him, you know, in front of a crowd. And there is charm there. I’ve met him. I’ve interviewed him and there were embers of charm, I have to say.

Fred Trump: There’s no doubt about it. But his base also laughs when he mocks a New York Times reporter who has disabilities or mocks wounded veterans. And his base laughs at that.

Matt Frei: And that desire to upset people because that’s the only way some people would explain that, you know, to say the thing that really hurts, what is that all about? Is that electoral, is that tactics, is it character?

Fred Trump: It’s just gotten worse over the years. And I really look forward to the point where we can move past that. He is who he is. Let’s see if he can recalibrate in some way to move forward in a positive direction. That’s what I’m hoping for. And if I can do anything to help that, I certainly will.