Elizabeth Christ

Elisabeth Trump (née Christ; October 10, 1880 – June 6, 1966) was a German-born American businesswoman known for her involvement in real estate development. She was born in Kallstadt, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire, to Philipp Christ and Anna Maria (née Anthon). Her family owned a small vineyard, and her father also worked as a tinker repairing and selling utensils. Philipp Christ operated his trade from his residence on Freinsheimer Strasse in Kallstadt, across the street from the home of Katharina Trump, an elderly widow with six children, including Frederick Trump.

In 1902, Elisabeth Christ married Frederick Trump, who had emigrated to North America in 1885 at age 16. Frederick achieved financial success through restaurants and brothels during the Klondike Gold Rush. The couple married in Germany on August 26, 1902, when Frederick was 33 years old and Elisabeth was 21. Following their marriage, they relocated to New York City and initially lived in the Bronx's Morrisania neighborhood, where Frederick worked as a barber and restaurant-hotel manager. Their first child, Elisabeth, was born on April 30, 1904. Family circumstances prompted them to return to Kallstadt later that year, but because Frederick was suspected of avoiding military conscription, the family returned to the United States in 1905. They then had a second child, Fred, and settled on 177th Street in the Bronx. A third child, John, was born subsequently, and the family later moved to Queens. Frederick Trump died in 1918 during the influenza pandemic, leaving an estate valued at approximately $31,359 at the time.

After her husband's death, Elisabeth Trump managed and expanded the family real estate holdings. She oversaw the building of houses on Frederick Trump’s vacant lots, selling these properties and earning income from mortgage payments. She aimed to involve her children in the business, initially operating under the name "E. Trump," and later adopting "E. Trump & Son" for advertising purposes in 1924. When the business was officially incorporated in 1927, only her son Fred was of legal age to sign checks, but Elisabeth remained extensively involved in the enterprise. Many accounts suggest she contributed significant capital and was actively engaged in the business operations.

Elisabeth Trump was considered the matriarch of the Trump family and maintained a close relationship with her son Fred throughout her life. She was involved in family business activities until later years, with reports indicating that she collected coins from laundromats in Trump-managed buildings. This practice was also noted to have been performed by others in the family, including her daughter-in-law Mary Trump. Her grandson, Donald Trump, along with other family members, has publicly mentioned childhood experiences involving coin collection from laundry machines in Trump properties.

Elisabeth Trump died on June 6, 1966.