Records Reveal Trump’s Own Mortgages Mirror the ‘Fraud’ He Accuses Others Of
Trump’s Own Mortgage Records Mirror the ‘Fraud’ He Accuses Others Of
Trump mortgage fraud For months, the Trump administration has gone after its political enemies over supposed mortgage fraud for having claimed more than one home as a “primary residence.” President Donald Trump has called the practice “very dishonest,” “maybe even criminal,” and said it’s “very appropriate” for the federal government to investigate.
However, ProPublica obtained Trump’s mortgage documents and they show that the now vocal critic of such loans signed not one but two mortgages that identified separate homes in Florida as his principal residence.
Trump mortgage fraud Two Mortgages, Two ‘Primary Residences’ — Within Seven Weeks
In late 1993 and early 1994, Trump purchased two homes on Woodbridge Road in Palm Beach, located directly north of his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Both mortgages were issued by Merrill Lynch:
| Property | Location | Mortgage Amount | Date Signed | Lender Declared as Primary Residence? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bermuda-style home | Palm Beach, FL | $525,000 | Dec 1993 | Yes |
| 7-bedroom mansion | Palm Beach, FL | $1,200,000 | Jan 1994 | Yes |
Each loan had a typical occupancy clause that Trump had to make the property his primary residence within 60 days and then occupy it for at least a year — unless he received an exception from the lender.
But records indicate that Trump did not live in either house.
His legal documents, federal filings and media profiles of the era cite his residence as Trump Tower in Manhattan.Even his 1994 Vanity Fair profile has him living primarily in New York or at Mar-a-Lago itself, not in the two satellite residences
Real Estate Agent: “They Were Rentals From the Beginning”
Trump’s longtime Florida real estate agent told the Miami Herald in 1993 that Trump had brought in a New York design company “to dress them up to the nines and lease them out annually.”
From Shirley Wyner, who later handled the rentals on both homes:
“They were rentals from the outset. President Trump never lived there.”
The rental listings appeared in the newspapers, confirming the houses were rented out soon.
The grander of the two mansions was going for $3,000 a day by 1997.”
Mortgage Law Experts Call It ‘Irony’ — And Possibly a Violation
Experts in mortgage law who examined the records were surprised by how starkly different Trump’s allegations now were from his own past practices.
“According to Kathleen Engel, a leading expert on mortgage finance and:
“Given Trump’s stance on matters like this, he will need to fire himself, or refer himself to the DOJ.”
It is legal to have two primary-residence mortgages under certain circumstances, experts say — such as with job relocation or lender error. But Trump’s situation is different from that.
They note:
Trump mortgage fraudnever lived there or in either building.
Both loans require you to occupy the property as your primary residence.
The homes were solely rentals, the records show.
Trump also benefited from loan terms usually reserved for primary residences, not investment properties.
They also commented on the irony: The Trump administration has just raised the bar a great deal higher about what it will consider to be mortgage fraud.
The Trump Administration’s Own Standard Flags the Same Practice
Trump mortgage In recent pronouncements, the administration has insisted that having two primary-residence mortgages is itself proof of wrongdoing.
Bill Pulte, director the Federal Housing Finance Agency, said:
“‘somebody’s inaccurately claiming two primary residences, that’s not right, and we’ll send it over for criminal investigation.’”
Trump’s conduct in 1993–94 fits precisely within that description.
“You can see many times right here after the interview, he quits on me,” during a chat with ProPublica about whether his own mortgages were similar to those he attacks, Trump reportedly hung up the phone.
Trump mortgage The White House Defends Trump — Blames ‘Left Wing Media’
In response to ProPublica, a White House spokesperson said:
The two loans were issued by the same lender, suggesting there wasn’t any fraud.
The accusations are a “reckless and baseless charge in a desperate attempt by the Left wing media to tear down President Trump.”
Trump has “never and never will break the law.”
The spokesman would not say if Trump had signed occupancy clauses, or whether the lender had made exceptional.
Trump mortgage Trump’s Financial Context at the Time
The two mortgages were secured in a tumultuous period for Trump:
His casinos and hotels had recently gone bankrupt.
He once joked that a panhandler was “worth $900 million more than I am.”
He had just married Marla Maples in a lavish ceremony.
He was pushing to turn Mar-a-Lago into a private club.
The Woodbridge Road purchases, all close to one another, were designed to give him greater dominance over the Mar-a-Lago neighborhood. His agent said:
“Now Mr. Trump can, in effect, decide who his neighbors are.”
Trump mortgage No Legal Consequences Likely — Statute of Limitations Has Passed
Even if the dual primary-residence claims violated mortgage law, experts note:
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The loans have long been paid off.
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The alleged misrepresentation occurred in 1993–94.
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The statute of limitations for mortgage fraud has expired.
Therefore, the findings raise no current legal risk — but do raise political and ethical questions, given Trump’s present accusations against others.
