Donald Trump has never gone bankrupt
| Donald Trump has never gone bankrupt | |
|---|---|
| MISLEADING | |
| "Donald Trump has never gone bankrupt, unlike other businessmen." | |
| Domain | Business, Finance & Scams |
| Tactic | False Context Statistical & Evidentiary Distortion |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2015 |
| Origin | Trump's statements during the 2016 campaign, including the presidential debates |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-01 |
| Further reading: books on Business, Finance & Scams | |
The claim that Donald Trump has never gone bankrupt is true only in the narrow sense that he has not filed for personal bankruptcy. Businesses he controlled filed for Chapter 11 protection six times.
The claim
During the 2016 campaign Trump said, "I've never gone bankrupt," describing the filings as legal business tools.
What the evidence shows
- Personal. Trump has not filed for personal bankruptcy
- Corporate. Companies he owned or controlled filed for Chapter 11 in 1991 (Trump Taj Mahal), 1992 (Trump Castle and the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino), 2004 (Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts), 2009 and 2014 (Trump Entertainment Resorts)
- Who paid. In the filings, bondholders and lenders took losses, and Trump gave up ownership stakes while keeping fees and his brand on some properties
Why it matters
The line invites voters to see a record of corporate bankruptcies as a record of financial success.
See also
Sources
- American Bankruptcy Institute, "Donald Trump Business Bankruptcies: A Summary."
- PolitiFact, "Yep, Donald Trump's companies have declared bankruptcy... more than four times," June 21, 2016.