‘My Uncle Donald is Atomic Crazy’: Trump’s Nephew Opens Up About His ‘Complex and Sometimes Cruel’ Uncle in Stunning Interview

Fred C. Trump III, a nephew of former President Donald Trump, promoted his new memoir about the Trump family in an ABC News interview on Tuesday, and he clarified that he did not believe his uncle was racist, but he was “atomic crazy.”

Excerpts from Fred Trump III’s book, All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way, revealed that the ex-president was prone to using the N-word, which his nephew observed as a 10-year-old in Queens. But he also stated that at the time — in 1970s-era Queens — several people used rough language that by today’s standards would be considered racist. And the younger Trump admitted as much in his interview with ABC News investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky:

Katersky: There’s a chapter that you write about called the “The Race Card.” What’s that about?

Trump: I was about ten years old, and I was at my grandparents house, like I was a lot. And Donald, I could hear him screaming. And I went down to the driveway of my grandparents’ house, and there was his white El Dorado convertible with two slashes. Still remember it. And he had electrical tape because the roof was black. And he used the word — the N-word — twice, just saying who he thought probably had done this.

Katersky: You were ten years old when these comments were allegedly uttered. You sure you remember him?

Trump: Oh, absolutely.

Katersky: He says he doesn’t use the word.

Trump: He did twice that day.

Katersky: You do write in the book about how people have labeled former President Trump a racist, and some people feel he is, some people say he’s not. And you ask the question “Is he a racist?” You don’t necessarily answer it. Is he a racist?

Trump: He at times espouses things that people who I believe are racist espouses. That’s the best I can answer that question.

Katersky: Say more.

Trump: I don’t believe he’s a racist. I think that he uses people, whether they’re Black or they’re — whoever can help him, he will use them. And, you know, call it racist or not, I don’t believe in that. He uses them as props, and when he gets what he needs out of them — votes — he’ll cast them aside.

Trump’s campaign denied Fred C. Trump III’s account of events. The former president was also accused of using the N-word during his time hosting NBC’s The Apprentice.

While the younger Trump didn’t believe that his uncle was racist, he did have a different, less-than-flattering way to describe him. Referring to the book’s subtitle, “The Trumps and How We Got This Way,” Katersky asked Trump, “What’s the Trump way?” He answered:

Complex and sometimes cruel. And within every family — people know this — families are complicated. Every family has their crazy uncle. My Uncle Donald is atomic crazy. And he has put his mark on the family history.

Watch the video above via ABC News on YouTube.

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