What Did Trump's Niece Just Say About Him?

Mary Trump on Dec. 9, 2021. Photo courtesy of TheNexusInstitute under CC BY 3.0.

When psychologist and author Mary Trump spoke to an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales, she didn't mince words about her uncle, President Donald Trump. In her latest book, "Who Could Ever Love You," and in recent interviews, Mary offered a deeply personal and unflinching portrait of a man she says is both unchanged and dangerously entrenched in his old ways.

A Family Defined by 'Cruelty'

Mary Trump describes her upbringing in the Trump dynasty with brutal honesty. The daughter of Donald's older brother, Fred Trump Jr., she refers to herself as the "black sheep" of the family. She says cruelty was a recurring theme in her household, particularly embodied by her grandfather, Fred Trump, whom she calls "literally a sociopath," The Guardian reported.

From childhood, Mary recalls, Donald Trump stood out — and not in a good way. One friend of Fred Jr. reportedly remembered a young Donald as a cocky, jealous teenager who was so off-putting that others regretted including him. Mary recounts being on the receiving end of her uncle's aggression when, at age 8, she was given a catcher's mitt — possibly to protect her from Donald's tendency to hurl baseballs at her with full force.

The Man Who 'Never Evolved'

One of Mary's most biting observations is that Donald Trump has never changed — and that, she says, makes him dangerous. According to Mary, her uncle remains as arrogant and emotionally isolated as he was in his youth. Even during a six-month period when she ghostwrote his second book in her 20s, she noted that he had no close relationships and demonstrated no capacity for growth.

"He is the only person I've ever met who's never evolved, which is dangerous by the way," she said, according to The Guardian. "Never choose as your leader somebody who's incapable of evolving — that should be one of the lessons we've learned, for sure."

Trauma and Development

Mary also delves into the psychological roots of Donald Trump's personality. She notes that his mother suffered serious health issues after the birth of his older sister, and despite doctors warning against further pregnancies, she went on to have Donald. According to Mary, his mother's illness meant that Donald, "at a very crucial developmental period, did not have his primary caregiver, and the only person left was his dad, the sociopath," she said, according to The Guardian. "So you can imagine how that sort of changed the trajectory of Donald's life."

She connects Donald's behavior to what he witnessed growing up, especially how Fred Trump undermined Fred Jr., Mary's father. The elder Trump's disdain for his more sensitive son created a playbook for dominance that Donald adopted and never abandoned.

From Election Shock to Public Advocacy

Mary Trump didn't speak publicly about her uncle until after the 2016 election — a result she says hit her hard. She described the moment as personally devastating, viewing it as the rise of "the worst person on the planet" to a position of power at the expense of more deserving individuals, as reported by the Irish Star.

"One of the reasons I took 2016 personally is that it felt like millions had voted to turn America into my family — which is a terrible idea," she said, according to the Irish Star.

Since 2016, Mary has positioned herself as one of Donald Trump's most vocal critics. Her commentary goes beyond political differences — she takes issue with what she sees as intentional cruelty in his policies, which she believes target the most vulnerable members of society. According to her, this cruelty reflects her family's toxic legacy more than it does any coherent political ideology.

Fear, Power, and Pathos

Despite her open criticism, Mary said she finds it baffling that anyone would be afraid of Donald Trump.

"My point of view is that I don't understand people who are afraid of Donald, because he's so pathetic," she said, according to the Irish Star. "Seriously, I would be embarrassed to be afraid of him."

To her, he is not the formidable force many perceive him to be, but a deeply insecure and "aggrieved" figure, as reported by the Irish Star. Still, she acknowledges the danger comes not just from Donald himself, but from those willing to commit acts of violence in his name.

"But it is his supporters and followers — who are willing to lay down their life for him and to make acts of violence on his behalf — who are the more worrisome group of people," she said, according to the Irish Star.

She also notes that Donald's constant antagonism toward elites likely stems from a long-standing insecurity. According to Mary, the upper crust of Manhattan society mocked and dismissed Donald for years, and he has carried that grievance into every corner of his public and political life.

A Warning for the Future

Mary warns that her uncle's goal is not merely political office — she believes he wants to be president for life. She pointed out that the issue isn't whether he'll run again, but whether he'd willingly relinquish power. She fears he'd challenge the system itself, daring the nation to stop him. Her conclusion is stark: unless people organize and resist, democracy may suffer irreversible damage.

References: Trump has 'never evolved, which is dangerous', his niece Mary Trump says | Donald Trump's niece, Mary Trump, slams uncle as the 'worst person on the planet'