Fact check: Are there any credible sources supporting the claim of Donald Trump having a secret child?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there are no credible sources supporting the claim of Donald Trump having a secret child. The primary allegation stems from Dino Sajudin, a former Trump Tower doorman, who claimed that Trump had an affair with his former housekeeper that resulted in a secret love child ^{[1] [2]}. However, both the Associated Press and The New Yorker investigated this story and found no evidence to corroborate it ^[1].

The claim appears to be unsubstantiated, with sources noting that there is little evidence to back up Sajudin's allegations ^[2]. Multiple sources focusing on Trump's family life and business dealings make no mention of any secret children ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}, suggesting this remains an isolated, unverified claim.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the financial motivations behind this story. The National Enquirer paid Sajudin $30,000 in 2015 to suppress his story, allegedly at the behest of Trump and his aides ^[2]. This "catch and kill" practice raises questions about whether the payment was made to silence a credible threat or simply to prevent the spread of unsubstantiated rumors during a politically sensitive time.

The analyses reveal that this claim surfaced during Trump's hush-money trial, suggesting it may have been revived for political purposes ^[1]. The timing of when such allegations surface - often during election cycles or legal proceedings - provides important context that the original question doesn't address.

Additionally, the question doesn't acknowledge that major news organizations with significant investigative resources specifically looked into this claim and found it lacking in evidence, which is crucial context for evaluating credibility.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain explicit misinformation, but it may inadvertently legitimize an unsubstantiated claim by asking for "credible sources" when the available evidence suggests no such sources exist. The phrasing implies there might be credible evidence to find, when investigations by reputable news organizations have already determined otherwise.

The question also lacks acknowledgment that this appears to be a conspiracy theory that has been investigated and debunked ^{[1] [2]}. By not providing this context, the question could contribute to the continued circulation of unverified allegations. One source even categorizes this as part of broader conspiracy theories surrounding Trump ^[7], suggesting it belongs in the realm of unsubstantiated rumors rather than legitimate investigative journalism.