DOJ Sues Fred and Donald Trump for Systematically Denying Housing to Black and Puerto Rican Applicants

The U.S. Department of Justice files a civil lawsuit on October 15, 1973 against Trump Management Inc., Fred C. Trump, and Donald J. Trump under the Fair Housing Act of 1968. DOJ investigators, working with New York City's Operation Open City testing program, document a pattern of Black and Puerto Rican renters being told no units are available while white testers applying to the same buildings the same week are offered apartments. Internal handling procedures allegedly include marking applications from African American applicants with the letter "C" for Colored to flag them for rejection. Donald Trump denies the allegations, calls them "absolutely ridiculous," and countersues the DOJ for $100 million for making false statements. The counterclaim is dismissed. In June 1975, the Trumps sign a consent decree requiring non-discriminatory advertising, vacancy reporting, training, and monitoring — without admitting liability. The case is the first major documented episode of the future president engaging in racial discrimination.