# Talk:Early life and education of Donald Trump

This review is transcluded from Talk:Early life and education of Donald Trump/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.
Nominator: ElijahPepe (talk · contribs) 05:37, 12 October 2025 (UTC)
Reviewer: SusanLesch (talk · contribs) 14:43, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

GA review (see here for what the criteria are, and here for what they are not)
It is reasonably well written.
Y prose, spelling, and grammar
Y Lead still needs to be written. I'd like to see three paragraphs. Please review Wikipedia's other Good Articles.
Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 21:16, 17 October 2025 (UTC)
Looks about the right length, thank you. We can revisit what it says later. -SGL
This (and the follow up in the body) sounds petty. Is there any way to shorten it to a word or two? After a physical altercation involving one of Trump's subordinates and amid broader hazing controversies at the academy, -SGL
Done. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 21:41, 22 October 2025 (UTC)
I rewrote the sentence. Does it look all right? -SusanLesch (talk) 22:42, 22 October 2025 (UTC)
Perfect, thank you. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 00:34, 23 October 2025 (UTC)
Otherwise the layout and MOS implementation looks good. It's not necessary or beneficial to list The New York Times and USA Today articles in a separate section as if they were scholarly journals. They function fine in the References section like in a normal article. (This isn't a GA requirement, but I asked at MOS just the same.)
YWhat is this supposed to mean under University of Pennsylvania? and many students had been accepted to the school -SGL
Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 04:35, 20 October 2025 (UTC)
I like the the main biography's treatment of the draft: Notwithstanding five years in military school,[16] he had no interest in going to war. -SGL
YWhy devote so much space to podiatrists? Years prior, he had visited a podiatrist who leased office space from Fred, who discovered that Trump had bone spurs in his heels, ensuring that Trump could play sports but not be eligible for the draft. The finding was potentially supported by another podiatrist who was a tenant of a Trump property. Sort of a let down to end the article. -SGL I found more podiatry in the lead. Too much overall. a podiatrist, who was a tenant of Fred's, discovered bone spurs in Trump's heels, allowing him to participate in sports but exempt him from being drafted. -SGL
Trump's avoidance of the Vietnam War is controversial, so more information is needed to round out that section. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 00:31, 21 October 2025 (UTC)
All right. What was controversial about it? The article doesn't say. I'd like to propose this |new section. -SGL
Trump received five deferments, but the one at issue here is the bone spurs diagnosis. The medical deferment was a controversy when Trump was running for president in 2015. Cohen testified that Trump did not have bone spurs and the daughters of the podiatrist in question, Larry Braunstein, told The New York Times that the diagnosis a favor to Fred Trump. There's nothing conclusive, however. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 17:39, 21 October 2025 (UTC)
Three percent of this article is about podiatrists and podiatry. You apparently have some agenda that you'd like the reader to read between the lines? I'm sorry that's not reasonably good writing, which is a GA requirement. Business Insider quotes Peace: A History of Movements and Ideas: more than half of the 27 million Americans eligible for service in Vietnam were "deferred, exempted, or disqualified." The unique thing about Trump is not his draft deferrals, it's that maybe half the people in the US wanted him to be their president, twice. I've given you an alternative. -SGL
P.S. Apologies for losing my patience. I am confident this will pass soon. -SGL
All good. I did take a second look at this and it is probably giving too much weight in the lede. It also interferes with the chronology of the last section. I based the sentence about the podiatrist(s) on what Craig and Buettner had written, which does mention the possible conflicts of interest. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 23:15, 21 October 2025 (UTC)
The source says that but the article doesn't. I put in the more ordinary phrase "second opinion". -SGL
YWhat is the meaning of all this about Fred Trump's business? You never come back to the subject and I don't believe this is even a good summary. In the aftermath of World War II, Fred's career shifted from home construction to FHA-insured apartment construction, a role that came with increased prominence in the New York real-estate scene;[4] President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Veterans' Emergency Housing Program three weeks before Trump was born, giving Fred access to greater wealth.[14] Fred faced complications in his business as a materials shortage mounted,[15] professing to The New York Times in April 1946 that he was encountering a crisis "the most critical ever faced by the home-building industry".[16] -SGL
It gives context to Trump's financial situation. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 14:12, 24 October 2025 (UTC)
Baloney. It takes up 20 to 25 percent of the whole section §Heritage and childhood. -SGL
I cut two of the three sentences of details about Fred's business, and added a higher level summary of who he was and his effect on Donald. Also overall a lot more copyediting. Can you please check over the article to be sure it's all right? Thank you. -SGL
Looks good to me. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 03:09, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
It is factually accurate and verifiable, as shown by a source spot-check.
More to do. -SGL
Y No copyright violation detected.
Y Why not say he learned golf from friends at Fordham? Golf is still important to him. -SGL
Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 16:40, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
YOne source (Kranish & Fisher) says he played catcher. Barrett says he was a stellar first baseman. I will check all possible sources but think the majority will overrule K&F.
Sources are divided because of this one source. Baseball Reference defers to the Washington Post where Kranish and Fisher worked. Google AI search gives the best answer: At the New York Military Academy, Donald Trump played first base and was also a pitcher. He also played catcher at times during his youth. Business Insider says his teammates say he played first base. Hurt is sure he played first base on p. 77, "Dobias' star first baseman". Page 73 of Barrett, to whom I choose to defer, says ...playing a sweet first base. -SGL
Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 20:57, 17 October 2025 (UTC)
Thank you, but not quite. Trump was known for baseball in high school. So we'll need to move this and the photo to §Military school. -SGL
Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 16:35, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
YRe: He arrived at New York Military Academy in September 1959, then commanded by Theodore Dobias, a World War II veteran. I have no reason to know that Dobias was commander of the whole school. The cited source says he was the "freshman-football coach and tactical training instructor." Haberman says "Some of the academy's students were in the care of Major Theodore Dobias..." on p. 26. Blair calls him "Coach Dobias" on p. 237. Hunt says he was the "baseball coach" on p. 77. O'Brien says "Donald's baseball coach and residential adviser" on p. 30. -SGL
What I meant to say was that Dobias commanded Trump, not that he lead the whole school. Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 20:54, 17 October 2025 (UTC)
Looks good. -SusanLesch (talk) 23:52, 18 October 2025 (UTC)
YI believe he earned a realtor's license outside of school and that Barrett reports the date.
Barrett page 78. Trump was a "real estate broker" licensed in 1975. Could be out of scope but it is part of his education. =SGL
I can't see anything more about his brokerage license on that page, so I'm hesitant to add it. I would say that it is an aspect of his career. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 21:01, 17 October 2025 (UTC)
Fine, career it is. I'm away until tomorrow afternoon. -SusanLesch (talk) 23:01, 17 October 2025 (UTC)
Y Re: In the summers at the academy, Trump would work for Fred at the Swifton Village apartment complex in Cincinnati. The cited source says this happened one summer between NYMA and college. There's a quote that's an opportunity to say Trump rolled up his sleeves. -SGL
Fixed. I was confusing something I had read in Craig and Buettner with Kranish and Fisher. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 02:33, 21 October 2025 (UTC)
I separated his mother's hysterectomy to its own sentence. The source given suggests no causal relationship with mysophobia. I've removed that diagnosis. Unsupported by the source. Not our place to give it here. -SGL
It is broad in its coverage.
Y Good overview of young Trump. Could have more detail but this is fine for starters. (For example, he was a tall kid, maybe tallest in his class at Kew-Forest. Also, the main biography article goes into some detail about the wealth Fred transferred to his children; Donald was a millionaire in today's dollars at age eight.) -SGL
YCorrection on reflection: you've cited O'Brien that his father was a millionaire and skipped Donald. Article should say that Trump was a millionaire in today's dollars at age eight. A source is Buettner & Craig 2024, pp. 30–31.
Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 16:31, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
YThe word "braggart" should be in the lead. This can be expanded in one sentence about his baseball claims, and is supported by claims he's made throughout. -SGL
YI wanted to explain he never drank because of his brother Freddy. But after looking into this, I think this belongs in his main biography because Trump was an adult when Freddy died. -SGL
It follows the neutral point of view policy.
Y Neutral, non-biased language. -SGL
YArticle seems overly eager to stress "mischief" in monotone. Cf. Maggie Haberman p. 25: Despite his impulsivity and outbursts in school, some friends remembered young Donald Trump as sweet and fun to be around.
Someone can be mischievous and affable. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 05:58, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
Your point in not saying this in the article is what? -SGL
Fixed. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 16:31, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
It is stable.
YArticle appears to be stable. -SGL
It is illustrated by images and other media, where possible and appropriate.
YBoth photos are in the public domain. Commons might have another photo we could use here (either baseball or class Ladies' Man) -SGL
Overall:
Pending. -SusanLesch (talk) 20:12, 16 October 2025 (UTC)
 Pass Congratulations, ElijahPepe! -SusanLesch (talk) 17:05, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

... that by age eight, Donald Trump was a millionaire in today's dollars?

ALT1: ... that a young Donald Trump developed a fear of germs after his mother had an emergency hysterectomy? Source: Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 37.
ALT2: ... that at the Kew-Forest School, a young Donald Trump became notorious for mischief? Source: Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 34.
ALT3: ... that a young Donald Trump was sent to New York Military Academy after his father found that he had been sneaking off to Manhattan to purchase knives and switchblades? Source: Blair 2000, p. 233.
ALT4: ... that a young Donald Trump would often skip classes at Fordham University to play golf? Source: Craig & Buettner 2024, p. 98.
ALT5: ... that detentions at Donald Trump's elementary school were named after him for his disruptive behavior? Source: Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 34.
Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Dinosaur emojis
Comment: ALT0 is preferred; some of the other blurbs may be politically contentious.

elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 05:26, 29 October 2025 (UTC).

All of the hooks violate MOS:EGG. Adding 'a young' to ALTs 1-4 might work.--Launchballer 04:42, 30 October 2025 (UTC)
Done. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 17:39, 30 October 2025 (UTC)
 Article looks good to me. Long enough and all that. Earwig's is clear. Didn't appear to have any neutrality issues although I'm not a politics guy so I'll just rely on the judgement of the good article reviewers. I'll just review ALT0 for now because I don't have access ot the books. ALT0 matches the source and article. I think the biggest issue is that the hook doesn't mention that it's adjusted for inflation, so maybe you could add something saying that it is? I don't really have an opinion because I guess people would look at it with today's value of the dollar. I'm not sure. ―Panamitsu (talk) 02:54, 1 November 2025 (UTC)
@Panamitsu: Done. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 05:40, 1 November 2025 (UTC)

I wouldn’t donate 10 cents to your organization!! Your one sided, slanted views are evident in most every write up you develop.  Why can’t you just provide the facts and leave out your slanted comments (which add nothing to the article).  You’re just like every other leftist…always trying to push your opinions on others!!! Stick to the facts!! ~2025-32503-10 (talk) 17:49, 10 November 2025 (UTC)

Please provide an example from this article that is not reliably sourced per WP:RS. -SusanLesch (talk) 15:18, 12 November 2025 (UTC)