Trump Family's Exodus: Why They Left Austria

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The Trump family's history with immigration is a complex one, with a history of emigration and deportation. In 1885, Friedrich Trump, Donald Trump's grandfather, emigrated from Germany to the US. He was later deported from Germany in 1905, along with his family, due to his failure to complete mandatory military service and notify authorities of his departure. Despite writing a letter begging not to be deported, Mr. Trump and his family were forced to return to New York, where they settled. Over a century later, Donald Trump imposed immigration policies that would have kept his grandfather out of the US, and his stance on immigration has had a significant impact on American travelers' experiences abroad.

Characteristics Values
Reason for leaving Failed to do military service and did not de-register from his homeland
Date of leaving 1 July 1905
Destination New York

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Donald Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump, was banished from Germany

Friedrich Trump, Donald Trump's grandfather, was banished from Germany for failing to complete mandatory military service and not giving notice of his departure to US authorities. In 1885, at the age of 16, Friedrich emigrated from the western Palatinate region of Germany to the US. He initially worked as a barber in New York and later took his savings to open a restaurant in Seattle. By 1892, he had become a US citizen and was on his way to becoming a rich man by offering a combination of food and women to revellers in the western city's red-light district.

In 1901, Friedrich returned to his hometown of Kallstadt, Germany, where he fell in love with Elisabeth Christ, whom he married a year later. The couple returned to the US, but when Elisabeth became homesick, the authorities blocked their attempts to resettle in Germany. In February 1905, a royal decree ordered Friedrich to leave Germany and never come back. The decree gave him eight weeks to leave the Kingdom of Bavaria and stated that if he did not comply, he would be deported.

In a desperate attempt to stay in Germany, Friedrich wrote a letter to Prince Regent Luitpold, begging for mercy and describing the decree as "a lightning strike from fair skies". He wrote about the anxiety and sickness that the news had caused his family and asked, "Why should we be deported? This is very, very hard for a family. What will our fellow citizens think if honest subjects are faced with such a decree?". Unfortunately, his pleas fell on deaf ears, and the Trumps were forced to return to New York with their daughter on 1 July 1905. Elisabeth was three months pregnant with Donald Trump's father, Fred, at the time.

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Friedrich Trump failed to carry out mandatory military service

In 1905, a royal decree was issued to Donald Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump, ordering him to leave Germany and never return. Friedrich, a German, was ordered to leave the Kingdom of Bavaria within eight weeks as punishment for failing to carry out his mandatory military service and not giving authorities notice of his departure to the US when he first emigrated in 1885.

Friedrich Trump was born in Kallstadt, Germany, in 1869. He first emigrated to the US at the age of 16 to escape poverty, attracted by the gold rush. He quickly turned his attention to catering for the masses of other gold hunters in Alaska, later allegedly running a brothel for them, and this is where he made his fortune. He habitually sent the gold nuggets with which his customers regularly paid for their food to his sisters, who had already emigrated to New York and started trading in property.

In 1901, Friedrich returned to his hometown of Kallstadt, where he fell in love with Elisabeth Christ. He married Elisabeth a year later and returned with her to the US. However, when Elisabeth became homesick and wanted to return to Germany, the authorities blocked his attempts to settle there due to his failure to carry out mandatory military service.

In an effort to overturn the royal decree dated 27 February 1905, Friedrich wrote a letter appealing to Prince Regent Luitpold, addressing him as "the much-loved, noble, wise and righteous sovereign and sublime ruler". Unfortunately, the prince rejected the appeal, and the Trumps were forced to leave Germany for New York with their daughter on 1 July 1905. Elisabeth was three months pregnant with Donald Trump's father, Fred, at the time of their departure.

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He did not give notice of his departure to the US

In 1905, Friedrich Trump, the grandfather of former US President Donald Trump, was ordered to leave Germany and never return. The royal decree, issued by the Kingdom of Bavaria, cited two reasons for his expulsion: firstly, Friedrich had failed to carry out his mandatory military service, and secondly, he had neglected to give authorities notice of his departure to the US when he first emigrated in 1885.

At the age of sixteen, Friedrich Trump emigrated from the German region of Palatinate to the United States. He settled in New York, where he worked as a barber. A few years later, he moved to Seattle and opened a restaurant, using his life savings. By catering to gold hunters in Alaska and providing them with food and women, he amassed a small fortune. He sent the gold nuggets he received as payment to his sisters in New York, who had begun investing in property. By 1892, Friedrich had become a US citizen.

In 1901, Friedrich returned to his hometown of Kallstadt, Germany, where he fell in love with and married Elisabeth Christ a year later. However, Elisabeth struggled with the climate in New York, so the couple moved back to Germany with their daughter. Friedrich's family was happy to be reunited with him, and his mother was comforted by the knowledge that he would take care of her in her old age.

Their happiness was short-lived, however, as they soon received news that they were being expelled from Bavaria. In a desperate attempt to stay, Friedrich wrote a letter to Prince Regent Luitpold, begging him to overturn the decree. He described the moment he received the news of their expulsion as "a lightning strike from fair skies" and pleaded for mercy, citing the anxiety and sickness that had befallen his family. Unfortunately, his pleas fell on deaf ears, and the Trumps were forced to leave Germany once again. On July 1, 1905, Friedrich and Elisabeth boarded the steamer Pennsylvania in Hamburg, bound for New York. Elisabeth was already pregnant with Donald Trump's father, Fred, and the family started a new life in the United States.

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The Trump family left Germany for New York in 1905

At the time, Germany was experiencing a period of economic hardship and political instability, which may have been a motivating factor for the Trump family's decision to leave. The country was still recovering from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, and the subsequent unification of the German Empire under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck had led to social and economic disruptions.

Additionally, the early 1900s in Germany saw a wave of protectionist policies and increasing tensions between conservative and liberal factions, which may have further contributed to a sense of uncertainty and instability. For a family like the Trumps, who were likely seeking financial stability and opportunities for advancement, the United States may have represented a more promising prospect.

New York, in particular, was a common destination for German immigrants during this period. The city offered a range of economic opportunities, particularly in industries such as manufacturing and trade, which may have attracted the Trump family. Additionally, the presence of an established German community in New York could have provided a supportive network for immigrants arriving from Germany.

While we cannot know the exact reasons and motivations behind the Trump family's decision to leave Germany, it is clear that their move to New York was part of a broader historical trend of immigration and the pursuit of a better life. Their story is intertwined with the larger narrative of individuals and families seeking opportunity and a new beginning in the United States.

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Over a century later, Donald Trump imposed immigration rules that would have kept his grandfather out of the US

Friedrich Trump, the grandfather of former US President Donald Trump, emigrated from Germany to the US in 1885. He did not de-register from his homeland and did not complete his mandatory military service. These factors led to his banishment from Germany via a royal decree issued in February 1905. The decree ordered him to leave the Kingdom of Bavaria within eight weeks and never return.

Over a century later, Donald Trump imposed new immigration rules that would have prevented his grandfather from entering the US. The Raise Act introduced a point-based system for new applicants to enter the US. Points were awarded based on various factors, including English language skills, financial self-sufficiency, and possession of a skill that would benefit the US economy. Friedrich Trump did not speak English when he arrived in the US, and he had no identifiable "calling" or skill. Thus, he likely would not have gained entry to the US if the Raise Act had been in place in 1885.

The Trump administration's hardline immigration stance has set a precedent for the potential deportation of First Lady Melania Trump, who is an immigrant herself. Trump's policies and rhetoric have targeted immigrants who are already contributing members of society and have threatened the freedom and security of immigrants and their families in the US. For example, he has promised to carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history and has proposed attacking birthright citizenship and forcibly separating children from their parents at the border.

Trump's aggressive immigration plans have been criticized for running counter to protections in the Constitution and statutes enacted by Congress. His close advisers, such as Stephen Miller, have emboldened him to launch a "shock-and-awe blitz" of executive orders and actions that target immigrants. Trump's actions and rhetoric on immigration have catalyzed serious political opposition, with members of Congress demanding access to immigrant detention sites and pressing for action on individual deportation cases.

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Frequently asked questions

There is no evidence that Trump's family left Austria. However, his grandfather, Friedrich Trump, was deported from Germany.

Friedrich Trump was a German who emigrated to the US in 1885 at the age of 16. He worked as a barber in New York and later opened a restaurant in Seattle. He became a US citizen in 1892.

Friedrich Trump was ordered to leave Bavaria and never return as he failed to complete his mandatory military service and did not notify authorities of his departure to the US.

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